Backgammon Notation Guide: How to Read & Write Moves (2026)

Backgammon notation is the written language of the game — it lets you record moves, read annotated games, share positions, and use analysis software effectively. Unlike chess notation, backgammon uses a simple point-number system that is quick to learn and immediately practical. This guide covers everything from basic move notation to position formats used by modern software.

Key Takeaways

Backgammon notation uses point numbers (1–24) to describe where checkers move: "13/7" means from the 13-point to the 7-point
The board is always numbered from the perspective of the player making the move
The bar is written as "bar" and bearing off is written as "/off"
Dice rolls are written before the moves: "3-1: 8/5, 6/5" means rolled 3-1 and made the 5-point
XG and GNU Backgammon use this same notation — learning it unlocks software analysis
Position IDs (like GNU's "4HPwATDgc/ABUA") encode a full board position in a compact string

The Board Numbering System

In standard backgammon notation, points are numbered 1 through 24 from the moving player’s perspective:

Points 1–6: Your home board (where you bear off)
Points 7–12: Your outer board
Points 13–18: Opponent’s outer board
Points 19–24: Opponent’s home board (where your back checkers start)

Important: The numbering is always from your own perspective. If you are playing White, your 1-point is your opponent’s 24-point. This means the same physical point has two numbers depending on who is describing it.

Starting Positions in Notation

Your checkers	Starting points
2 checkers	24-point (opponent’s home board)
5 checkers	13-point (opponent’s outer board)
3 checkers	8-point (your outer board)
5 checkers	6-point (your home board)

Basic Move Notation

A move is written as from-point/to-point:

Notation	Meaning
`13/7`	Move a checker from the 13-point to the 7-point
`24/20`	Move a checker from 24 to 20 (split the back checkers)
`6/2`	Move a checker from 6 to 2
`bar/21`	Enter from the bar onto the 21-point
`6/off`	Bear off a checker from the 6-point
`2/off`	Bear off a checker from the 2-point

Multiple Moves in One Turn

When a roll allows two moves, both are written separated by a comma:

13/10, 8/5 — move from 13 to 10, and from 8 to 5.

Doubles

Doubles allow four moves (or two if the same checker moves twice):

6/5(4) — move four checkers from 6 to 5 (rolled double 1 with four checkers available).
13/7, 13/7 — move two checkers from 13 to 7 (rolled double 6).
13/7(2) — shorthand for the same thing.

Hitting

If you move to a point occupied by one opponent checker (a blot), you hit it. The notation is the same — the hit is implied by landing on an occupied point:

8/5* — some notations add an asterisk to indicate a hit.

Writing a Full Move

A complete move record includes the dice roll and both checker moves:

1. 3-1: 8/5, 6/5

This means: on turn 1, the player rolled 3 and 1, moved a checker from the 8-point to the 5-point (using the 3), and moved another checker from the 6-point to the 5-point (using the 1) — making the 5-point.

Cube Actions

Doubling actions are recorded alongside moves:

Double or Doubles — the player offers the cube
Takes or Take — opponent accepts the double
Drops or Drop — opponent declines

4. White doubles. Black takes.
5. 6-2: 24/18, 13/11

Annotated Game Format

Full game scores in books and databases typically look like this:

Game 1 (7-point match, score 0-0)

White: Bill Robertie
Black: Kit Woolsey

1. W 4-2: 8/4, 6/4      B 3-1: 8/5, 6/5
2. W 6-5: 24/13          B 5-4: 13/8, 13/9
3. W doubles. B takes.
4. W 6-3: 24/18, 13/10   B 6-1: 24/18, 13/12

Each line shows White’s roll and play, then Black’s roll and play.

Software Notation: XG and GNU Backgammon

Both eXtreme Gammon (XG) and GNU Backgammon use the same move notation system. When you analyse a game in these programs, output looks like:

Rolled 5-4
  13/8 13/9  (0.000 equity)
  13/8 6/2   (-0.043)
  13/9 13/8  (-0.050)

The number in parentheses is the equity difference from the best play. Negative means worse than best.

Position IDs

GNU Backgammon (and XG) use a Position ID — a compact encoded string representing the full board position:

Example: 4HPwATDgc/ABUA

This encodes where all 30 checkers are. You can paste a Position ID into any GNU-compatible software to recreate the exact board state. Useful for:

Sharing positions online for discussion
Bookmarking positions for later study
Recreating positions from annotated games

Match IDs

Similarly, a Match ID encodes the full match state (score, cube position, who owns the cube, whose turn):

Example: cIlwATDgc/ABUA:cAkAAAAAAAAA

Together, Position ID + Match ID fully describe a game state at any point.

Common Notation Abbreviations

Abbreviation	Meaning
`b` or `bar`	Bar (a checker on the bar)
`off`	Bearing off
`*`	Hit (checker sent to bar)
`(2)`, `(3)`, `(4)`	Number of checkers making the same move
`D` or `Dbl`	Double offered
`T` or `Tk`	Cube taken
`P` or `Dr`	Cube dropped (pass)
`B` or `Bvr`	Beaver (immediate re-double)
`W`	White (or the first player)
`B`	Black (or the second player)

Describing Positions in Text

When discussing positions in writing (articles, forums, books), writers often describe the board state point by point:

Standard format:

White’s position: 2 on 24, 5 on 13, 3 on 8, 5 on 6. Black’s position: 5 on 19, 3 on 17, 5 on 12, 2 on 1.

This tells you exactly where every checker is without a diagram.

Why Learn Notation?

Backgammon notation unlocks:

Software analysis: XG and GNU use this notation — you must be fluent to use them
Books and articles: Almost all serious backgammon literature uses move notation
Online communities: Forums, Reddit, and Discord discussions use notation constantly
Game recording: Recording your games for later analysis requires notation
Sharing positions: Send a Position ID and anyone can recreate your question exactly

Frequently Asked Questions

How does backgammon notation work?

Points are numbered 1–24 from your perspective. Moves are written as from-point/to-point: “13/7” means a checker moves from the 13-point to the 7-point.

What does “bar/21” mean in backgammon notation?

A checker enters from the bar and lands on the 21-point. The bar is written as “bar” in notation.

What does “/off” mean?

It means a checker is borne off the board (removed from the game). “6/off” means a checker on the 6-point is borne off.

How are doubles written?

Doubles allow four moves. You can write each move separately (“6/5, 6/5, 6/5, 6/5”) or use shorthand (“6/5(4)”) when the same move is made multiple times.

What is a Position ID?

A Position ID is a short encoded string (like “4HPwATDgc/ABUA”) that encodes the full board position. Used by GNU Backgammon and XG to share positions compactly.

Do I need to learn notation to play backgammon?

For casual play, no. For serious improvement, yes — software analysis tools and most instructional resources use notation, so fluency accelerates learning significantly.