Understanding Backgammon Notation

Backgammon notation is a standardized way of recording and describing moves in a backgammon game. The system we use today was popularized by Paul Magriel in his 1976 book "Backgammon" and has since become the standard notation system used worldwide¹.

Basic Notation Format

Each move is recorded in the following format:

Point Numbering

The backgammon board is numbered from 1 to 24, with the numbers increasing counter-clockwise around the board. Each player's home board contains points 1-6, and their outer board contains points 7-12².

Special Notations

• Hitting a checker: Use an asterisk (*) after the point number
  4-3: 8/4* 6/4 (hits a checker on point 4)
• Entering from the bar: Use "Bar" as the starting point
  6-1: Bar/24 24/18 (enters from bar to point 24)
• Bearing off: Use "off" as the destination point
  3-1: 3/off 1/off (bears off two checkers)
• Doubles: Use parentheses to indicate multiple moves to the same point
  2-2: 13/11 11/9 24/22(2) (moves two checkers from 24 to 22)

Example Game

Game 1
Player 1 (Black) : 0    Player 2 (White) : 0
  1) 3-1: 6/5 8/5       4-3: 13/10 13/9
  2) 3-2: 13/11 13/10   5-4: 9/5 10/5
  3) 5-4: 13/9 10/5      5-5: 13/8 8/3(3)
  4) 5-5: 13/8(2) 8/3(2) 5-1: 13/8 6/5
  5) 6-4: 6/2 8/2        2-2: 13/11 11/9 6/4(2)
  6) 6-6: 24/18(2) 11/5 9/3  6-2: 3/1 9/3
  7) Doubles to 2        Pass
     Wins 1 point

Additional Notes

• When a player can't make a move, it's indicated as "(no-play)"
• If only one die can be played, the other is simply omitted
• The doubling cube is indicated as "Doubles to X" where X is the new value
• Responses to doubles are indicated as "Take" or "Pass"