Really stupid question, sorry. I'm pretty good at backgammon and am trying to get better.

But I read some strategy saying it's good to own the 5 point.

Where is the five point? How do you count the points? Was this crazy strategy? 5??? I could see maybe six...

I'm still learning, but here's a point I like to own. I'll tell you how I got there, you tell me what number it is, and how I count down the line....

I win the roll with a 6-4. From that pile of 2 on my upper right, I move one guy 6, the other guy four. My opponent misses hitting me. Then say I roll a 5-2. I'll move the guy from that pile of 5 on my upper left 5, and the guy I had just moved 4 I'll move 2.

I now own a point, got there from a six, and later the 2 (plus the previous four). I can tell it's nice to own this point, but what is it CALLED?

Sorry, but it seems like most backgammon rules just don't bother to number it out from you. And I can make no sense out of owning a "5" point....

Nancy

The numbers refer to the actual positions on the board, not the piles from which you've moved them.



The numbers around the border indicate the point numbers relative to black.

Edit: For example, black has two checkers on the 18 point and none on the 5 point.

The point you're referring to is the 18-pt on Aaron's diagram. However, it's also your opponent's 7-pt, but in almost every book, it's called the bar point. In your case, it's your opponent's bar point.

Thanks a lot for the picture. It was exactly what I was looking for.



Nancy