Backgammon match play turns single games into tournaments. Instead of playing for cash on each game, you race to a target score — typically 5, 7, 9, or 11 points. Match play introduces strategic depth that money games can't match, especially around the doubling cube.
Money Play vs Match Play
In money play, every point counts equally — winning 2 points is twice as good as winning 1. In match play, the value of points changes based on the score. Winning a point when you're at 6-away in a 7-point match is huge; winning one when you're already at the limit is worthless. This score-dependence is what makes match play so strategically rich.
The Crawford Rule
When one player reaches "match point" (one point away from winning), the next game is played without the doubling cube. This is the Crawford Rule, named after John Crawford who proposed it in the 1950s.
Why? Without it, the trailing player would immediately double every game — they have nothing to lose. The Crawford game prevents this abuse and gives the leader one fair shot at finishing the match.
Post-Crawford Strategy
After the Crawford game (if the trailer wins it), things get interesting. In all subsequent games, the trailer should usually double on the very first roll — an "automatic redouble." They need to win multiple games to come back, and the cube doubles the points earned per game.
The leader, in post-Crawford games, should generally take the double. Refusing means automatically losing — at least taking gives them a chance.
Match Equity Tables
A match equity table shows your probability of winning the match at every possible score. For example, in a 7-point match, being up 4-2 gives you about 67% match equity. These tables are essential for advanced players making cube and play decisions.
Modern tables (like Kazaross XG2) come from billions of computer-simulated matches. Memorizing key match scores — especially when "double match point" applies — can make a significant difference in close matches.
The Jacoby Rule (Money Play Only)
In money games, the Jacoby Rule states that gammons and backgammons don't count unless the cube has been doubled. This prevents long, boring "no-double-yet-but-still-going-for-the-gammon" situations. The Jacoby Rule does NOT apply in match play — gammons and backgammons always count there.
Beavers, Raccoons & Otters
When offered a double in money play, you can sometimes "beaver" — immediately redouble to 4× while keeping the cube. The original doubler can then "raccoon" to 8×, and so on. These aggressive re-doubles are forbidden in tournament match play but are common in casual money sessions.
Key Strategic Differences
Gammon value: Depends entirely on the score. When trailing badly, gammons are gold; when leading, they may not help (extra points beyond the match limit are wasted).
Take points: Money play take points are roughly 25%. Match play take points vary wildly with the score and cube level.
Cube decisions: The closer you are to winning, the less you should double. The further behind you are, the more you should accept.
Starting Point
Most tournaments use 7, 9, 11, or 13-point matches. For online and casual play, 5 and 7-point matches are most common. Once you internalize the Crawford Rule and start studying match equity, your win rate against equally skilled opponents will improve dramatically.