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Backgammon Variants

Hyper-backgammon

Setup: Each side starts with just three checkers: one on each of the opponent's one-point, two-point, and three-point.

Play: The rules are the same as for regular backgammon. You make points (well, one point anyway), hit opposing blots, and bear your checkers off just as in the regular game.

A doubling cube is used, so you can double or redouble as in backgammon. The Jacoby rule applies, so gammons are not activated until the cube has been turned (see below under Scoring).

Scoring: The scoring is the same as in regular backgammon: the winner gets one point for a normal win, two points for a gammon, and three points for a backgammon. However, gammons and backgammons score extra only if a double has been offered and accepted during the game.

Computer play: Hugh Sconyers has calculated the exact equity of all 32 million possible positions in hyper-backgammon. This means the game has been solved and can be played perfectly by computer.

Differences from Backgammon

Each side starts with just three checkers, one on each of the opponent's one-point, two-point, and three-point.

References

• Michael Urbon: Posted to rec.games.backgammon.
• Gregg Cattanach: Posted to rec.games.backgammon.
• Hugh Sconyers: Hyper-backgammon web site.