Five-Count Part 4.1:
Common patterns for "10s" in a group counting process

Created by Sho Sengoku, 2001

A "finding 10s" in a group counting process can be even faster when you memorize common patterns that make 10s. Since you can skip those multiplication like 3 × 4 or 5 × 3 and addition like 8 + 12, finding one 10 or 20 can be done in even less than one second.

During a group counting process, what matter are a group number and a number of checkers in the group, not a pip count of each point in a group. You should forget or ignore those alternately colored triangles, and just focus on those group boundaries like this six box image:

The simplified board image for a group counting process

Group #	5	4	3
Group #	0	1	2

The tables below show you some very common patterns for 10s, which you often find in backgammon games in a real life.

Common one/two group patterns for "10"

10	10	9   1
8       2	8     2	2 8
8 2	6     4	4 6
6   4	4       6	4 6
4     6	6 4	3   7

Common three group patterns for "10"

5 4     1	5       1 4	5   3     2
5   3   2	5       3 2	4     2 4
4     4 2	4 3   3	3   3 4

Common two/three group patterns for "20"

5   15	8 12	12     8
16       4	5   9     6	8 9   3
8 6     6	12 6     2	4 15   1

Continue on to:   Part 4.2: To get a "rough count" even faster

Sho Sengoku's Five Count Overview:   Summary of Sho's Pip Count, "Five-Count" Part 1:   Quick View: Introduction to "Five-Count" Part 2:   Techniques for Easier and Faster Counting Part 3:   Practice, Practice, Practice Part 4:   Even Faster! Part 4.1:   Common patterns for "10s" in group counting Part 4.2:   To get a "rough count" even faster Part 4.3:   Common cancellation patterns in an adjustment

 

See:  Other articles by Sho Sengoku

See:  Other articles on Pip Counting

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