What is a pip count in backgammon?

The pip count is the total number of points a player must move all of their checkers to bear them all off. You add up, for every checker, the number of pips it still has to travel home. The player with the lower pip count is ahead in the race. At the start of a standard game each player has a pip count of 167.

How do you count pips quickly in backgammon?

Rather than counting checker by checker, group them. Count by points and multiply (three checkers on the 6-point is 18 pips), and compare only the difference between the two sides rather than each full count. Many strong players also track the count as it changes each roll instead of recounting from scratch.

When does the pip count matter most?

The pip count matters most for racing and cube decisions. When contact is breaking and the game becomes a pure race, the count tells you whether to play safe and run (if ahead) or keep contact and play for a hit (if behind). It is also central to deciding when to double, take, or drop in a race.

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How to count pips in backgammon

The pip count is the simplest, most useful number in backgammon: it tells you who is winning the race. Once you can count it, a whole layer of decisions gets clearer, when to run, when to fight, and when to reach for the doubling cube. Here is what the pip count is, how to count it without slowing the game down, and when it should drive your play.

What a pip count is

A "pip" is one point of distance a checker must travel to reach home and bear off. Your pip count is the total distance for all fifteen of your checkers added together. A checker on your 6-point needs 6 pips to come off; one on your 13-point needs 13; and so on. Add them all up and you have your count. The player with the lower count is ahead in the race. At the opening position, both players have a pip count of 167.

How to count without slowing down

Counting all fifteen checkers one at a time is slow and error-prone. Group them instead:

Count by point, then multiply. Three checkers on the 8-point is 3 × 8 = 24 pips. Do this point by point and sum the results.
Count only the difference. You rarely need both exact totals. Mentally cancel the checkers that mirror each other and count only where the two positions differ, which is far less work.
Track, do not recount. Strong players keep a running count and simply adjust it by the size of each roll, instead of recounting the whole board every turn.

With a little practice this takes seconds, not minutes.

When the pip count decides the game

The count matters most when the game turns into a race, once the checkers have passed each other and hitting is no longer possible. Then the rule is simple:

Ahead in the count? Simplify and run. Break contact, avoid leaving blots, and bring everything home efficiently.
Behind in the count? Do not race a contest you are losing. Keep contact, hold your anchor, and play for a hit, as covered in the strategy guide.

The pip count and the doubling cube

In a pure race, the pip count is the backbone of cube decisions. A common rule of thumb is the "8, 9, 12" guide for the player on roll: with both sides bearing in or racing, being ahead by about 8% of your pip count is enough to double, around 9% is a strong double, and you can usually take until you are behind by roughly 12%. You do not need to memorize the exact percentages to benefit, just know that the bigger your lead in the count, the stronger your cube action. For the full cube picture, see our doubling cube guide.

Let the board do the counting

Counting by hand is a skill worth building, but you can also just play and check your instincts against the computer. On Backgammon Battles, every game is analyzed move by move, so when you misjudge a race or a cube decision, the analysis shows you the right call and what your error cost. Play, compare, and your feel for the race sharpens fast, then watch your performance rating improve.

Put your race judgment to the test.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a pip count?

The total distance all your checkers must travel to bear off. The player with the lower count is ahead in the race. Both sides start at 167.

How do you count pips quickly?

Group checkers by point and multiply, compare only the difference between the two sides, and keep a running count rather than recounting each turn.

When does it matter most?

In races and cube decisions. The count tells you whether to run (ahead) or play for a hit (behind), and it drives when to double, take, or drop in a race.

Use the count for better cube decisions →

Read the full strategy guide →