This backgammon games glossary is divided into 3 parts and is dedicated to passionate players around the world. The introduction and learning games section is followed by over 200 backgammon games terms.
Backgammon Games Glossary introduction includes a backgammon layout graphic and a
learning games section for new players.
Additionally, gamerisms believes that backgammon games should be categorized as strategy games.

Backgammon learning games section:
Backgammon is a two-player game, the object of which is to be the first player to move all of your checkers into the opponent's home board and then off the table.  It is played on a board consisting of 24 narrow triangles=points, which alternate in color and are grouped into two, each having twelve triangles.
The halves are formed by the two opposing sides of the board, with a vertical band down the middle called the ‘bar,’ where the checkers are placed when hit. 

Backgammon Games Glossary: Points
The points in backgammon are numbered from one to 24, with checkers always moving from high to low numbers. As the players move their checkers in opposite directions during backgammon, the one point for one player will be the 24 point for the other. 
Each player has 15 checkers and these begin the game with two positioned on the 24 point, five on the 13 point, three on the eight point, and five on the six point in their home board. 
A pair of dice determines the number of moves available to the players, and a doubling cube with numbers 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64 on its six sides is used to keep track of the stakes currently in play.  Two timers govern the game of backgammon.
This learning games section is followed by the first part of the games glossary.

Backgammon Games Glossary: A-C

Backgammon Games Glossary: A

• Accept a Double: the stakes for the game have just been doubled as requested by an opponent. 
• Ace Point: the first or 1 point on the board, the closest point to bear off.
• Ace-point Game or Guff: occurs when a player has 2+ checkers anchored on his/her challenger's ace-point. Player then attempts to hit thereby preventing the challenger from doing so.
• Acey-deucey: jargon for a dice roll of 1-2.
• Acting Captain: occurs during chouette when a substitute captain represents the team against the box. 
• Action Play: term for a tactic used to initiate an exchange of hits.
• Active Builder: jargon for a free builder that is in position to get a point.
• Advanced Anchor: a made point that is positioned on your opponent's 4 point, 5 point or 6 point. See also, anchor and deep anchor.
• Ahead in the count/Ahead in the race: occurs when a player has a lower pip count than the challenger.
• Air Ball: backgammon games glossary term for a roll that gives no advantage.
• Anchor: a made point on your opponent's home board. Each player begins the game with an anchor (two checkers) on their 24 point, which is their opponent's 1 point. See also, advanced anchor and deep anchor.
• Around the Corner: occurs when 1+checker(s) moves from the challenger's outer board to the player's outer board.
• Asset: term for an item that increases the value of a position.
• Automatic Doubles: this rule states that if both players get the same number on the first roll of the dice, then a double is called.
  

Backgammon Games Glossary: B

• Backgame: tactic used when a player has 2+ points in the challenger's home board. Objective is to get points in the player's home board and wait it out until the challenger has to open up his/her backboard at which time, it is the player's chance to strike.
• Bar Point: term for the 7-point.
• Bar: the dividing line down the middle of a backgammon set where checkers that have been hit sit until they re-enter the game.
• Bear In: the stage of the game when a player moves his men into his home board.
• Bear Off: stage of the game when a player has all his men on his home board, and is in the process of moving them off the board altogether.
• Beaver/Binache: when one player doubles, and his opponent immediately redoubles.
• Behind in the count or Behind in the race: occurs when a player has a higher pip count than the challenger.
• Big Play: tactic to take the big move rather than the safe move.
• Blitz: a style of play in which a player hits his opponent repeatedly in his own home board in an effort to keep him on the bar and close him out.
• Block: backgammon games glossary reference to point held by 2+ checkers with the intent of blocking a challenger's movement.
• Blockade: jargon for a series of blocks put into place to curtail the escape of the other side's runners. The best blockade is a prime.
• Blocking Game: refers to a game tactic that involves building a powerful blockade.
• Book a Checker: term for covering a blot.
• Blot: a single checker on a point. This is a vulnerable position.
• Box: jargon for the single player in chouette.
• Boxcars/Boxes: term for a dice roll of 6-6.
• Break Contact: strategy to go forward past a challenger's checkers in order to close the opportunity of any hitting or blocking.
• Break a Prime: lingo for 1 or more points in a prime.
• Break the Board: occurs when established points in your home board are surrendered.
• Broken Prime: term for almost completed prime with the exception of a gap.
• Build One's Board: movement to make points in your home board.
• Bump: backgammon games glossary jargon for the action of hitting a checker.
• Bump and Pass: refers to a 2-step action, hit a checker and move on to anchor with the same game piece.
• Button Up: term refers to covering a blot and avoiding a hit.
  

Backgammon Games Glossary: C

• Captain: refers to the team player who plays against the box in the game of chouette.
• Cash: term for making the offer of a double when a player is assured that his/her challenger will refuse the offer. 
• Centered Cube: refers to the center bar position of the doubling cube before a player makes the offer of a double.
• Checker: also known as stones, men, counters or pieces; this term refers to each player's markers while playing the game and rolling the dice.
• Chouette: version that involves at least 3 players where 1 backgammon player goes up against a playing group led by a captain.
• Clean Play: jargon for a legal move.
• Close Out: refers to making your board or to close out a challenger by closing all the points in your home board.
• Closed Board: when a player has made all the points on his inner board, his opponent will be unable to re-enter any checker he may have on the bar into the game until an open point becomes available again.
• Closed Point: jargon for point containing 2+ checkers.
• Cocked Dice: jargon for dice that do not lie flat when rolled and must be rolled again.
• Combination/Indirect Shot: occurs when 2 dice numbers are applied together to create a roll larger than 1 die. Example of 6+3= 9 pips for one checker.
• Come In: backgammon games glossary term for action of re-entering from the bar.
• Comeback Shot: jargon for a dice roll that allows a checker on the bar to hit a blot.
• Comfort Station: term for the mid-point.
• Communication: movement of positioning checkers within 6 pips of each another to create mutual support.
• Consolidate: term for grouping checkers, thereby reducing the number of blots.
• Contact Game: term for a scenario where 1 player may hit or block the challenger.
• Count: refers to number of remaining moves required to clear the board or pip count.
• Cover: to shield a blot with a second checker, ensuring it is made.
• Cramped: jargon for a player in a tight position of decreased movement.
• Crawford Rule: used only in match play, when a player reaches a score in which he is only one point away from winning the match, his opponent is not allowed to double in the next game.
• Crew: refers to team players and captain playing against a single player or box in a game of chouette.
• Crossover: term for movement of a piece. Example, from outer to home board.
• Crunch: jargon for player's position whereby a prime must be broken up as it is the only play available. 
• Cube: backgammon games glossary term for the doubling cube.
• Cube Decision: it's decision time. Do you offer a double or refuse/accept?
• Cube Equity: term of reference to money wagered using the doubling cube.
• Cube Ownership: rules of the game determine that a player can double only when in possession of the cube and if it's their turn. Procedure is to make the offer before throwing and if accepted by an opponent, the cube is then placed on their side of the board.
• Current Stake: calculated as the original stake x value of the doubling cube.

Backgammon Games Glossary and learning games is followed by terms D - K
Backgammon Part 3
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Skill gamerisms Intro
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