Rules Covering Tournament Game Action

The regular game rules in backgammon still apply to tournaments. Regular rules like hitting, how checkers are moved, the starting position, and entering apply in tournaments. Backgammon tournament rules regarding game play will focus more on irregularities and what constitutes valid moves during a game. Players are expected to know the fundamental rules of the game since tournament rules will not dwell on them.

Let's take a look at the rules covering the game play in backgammon tournaments. We'll begin with the most basic thing every player does in a game, which is rolling the dice.

When it comes to dice rolling, there are two main concerns in a formal match. The first is making valid dice rolls and the second is making dice rolls random. For a dice roll to be valid, a player must make it on the ride side of the bar. The dice should lie flat on the playing surface of the backgammon board otherwise the dice should be rolled again.

To make dice rolls random, players are to shake the dice in a dice cup, toss both dice simultaneously, allowing both to get an unobstructed roll. Your dice should remain in your dice cup if it isn't your turn. At certain times, baffle boxes may be used in order to make sure that dice rolls are completely random.

Another concern in tournament game play is making premature moves. Basically, you are not allowed to roll dice or make any other move until your opponent picks up his dice, which is the signal that your opponent has finished his turn. This same rule also applies for cube action during the game. If a premature action is made and is uncontested then it shall be assumed as valid.

Players who overlook or condone such premature moves or illegal moves do so at their own risk. To do so, all a player has to do is simply go on with the game (i.e. roll dice, turn the cube, move checkers etc.) without contesting the illegal move. If a player decides to put such illegal move in check all he has to do is declare it and ask the opponent to roll again or make a legal move.

The same rule also applies if a player notices an error in the set up of the backgammon board. In the U.S. backgammon tournament rules, players are allowed to correct the set up until both players have made their fifth moves in a game. Different tournaments will treat rules and conditions differently, so players should check what is exactly stated about set up errors and the other concerns mentioned here.