Pip count basics

In order to be able to make the right moves at the right time you need to know how your backgammon game is going. Sounds obvious, but at times it can be quite hard to determine in Backgammon who is actually leading the game. Pip count is just the tool for this job. It can be used to determine which of the players is ahead and therefore helps to decide wheter an aggressive or safe maneuver is required in a given situation. When used correctly, pip count can be the single most effective tool in the backgammon player’s toolbelt.

What is pip count?

Pip count is a simple concept. In short, it is the number of “steps” your checkers need to take before they are off the board. Backgammon is a racing game and pip count shows who is ahead in the race.

Offline Backgammon players need to calculate the pip count themselves, which can be quite a task, but when played online the pip count for both players is shown automatically.

Using the pip count

Knowing the current pip count is so important, because it can help decide your next move. Being ten percent ahead in the pip count tells you that you are currently the favorite to win, if your checkers don’t get hit. The opposite is true also: being ten percent or more behind tells that you are currently loosing, so taking risks and being aggressive is the way to go.

In the lead

Being ahead in the pip count dictates safe, risk free playing. Since you are already ahead in the race, try not to leave any blots for your opponent to hit. Be conservative on your decisions on when to hit and leave a blot and when to play safe. Hitting isn’t of course forbidden, but being ahead in the race (especially in the mid-late game) is not the time to be overly agressive. Leave as few blots as possible and let your opponent be agressive and make mistakes. Playing this way helps you keep your lead and makes you the big favorite to win the game.

Turning the game around

When you are behind in the pip count, you are free to take chances. There is no reason to hold back, as playing safe is only going to cost you the game. The bigger the difference in pip count, the greater the risks you can and must take to turn the game around. Hitting blots even when it leaves your own blots on the board is the way to go!

Being behind in the pip count also tells you that you need to maintain contact with your opponent. Even if a tempting opportunity rises to jump your checkers over your opponent’s blockade, don’t do it. He is not holding you back - you are holding him back!

Things to consider besides the pip count

Pip count is of course not the only measure of how well you are doing. Other things worth considering is the situations of the home boards: if you get hit, can you enter? If you hit, can your opponent enter? And what about back checkers? Has one or both of them escaped? Even the distribution of the checkers is important. Having ones checkers in a few big stacks severely limits mobility.

These other factors can sometimes outweigh the importance of pip count. For example even though you are behind, it may not be wise to hit and leave a blot, if your opponent has his home board covered and is highly likely to both enter and hit your blot on the same turn.

To sum it all up

When you you find yourself contemplating between different moves and don’t know which one is the correct one to make, take a look at the current pip count. It just may be the factor that helps you decide the correct move to make - and making correct moves often results in a positive cash flow to your bank account…