Good Things

When you meet and start your match, greet your opponent friendlily. It doesn’t matter exactly how you do this, but don’t just arrive and start playing. You should introduce yourself, shake hands, ask a simple question such as “Where are you from?” or wish them a good game.

After the match, say something similar. Say goodbye or good match to your opponent. The form of your farewell is entirely up to you. If you felt the match was well played, say so. If you did not, say something else kind, especially if you lost. It is unsightly to display poor sportsmanship.

The doubling cube should be used carefully by both parties. When you double, place the cube on the board. Clearly state what you are doing, whether it is “double”, “take”, “drop”, or “pass”. If the game uses Crawford rules, make sure both parties are aware and take the cube off the table.

Scoring should be completed by both parties to ensure agreement. Both players should announce the score at the end of the game and acknowledge the opponent’s score.

Shake the dice for at least three motions and roll them gently onto the board. However, if your opponent is still thinking or looking at the board, do not roll your dice yet. Be quiet and respectful whenever your opponent is playing or looking over the board.

Bad Things

It is bad form to point out the luck of your opponent’s rolls during or following a match. It might seem like a nice statement, but it is also a backhanded insult, relegating your opponent’s roll or victory to luck rather than skill. It does not matter if your opponent received doubles three turns in a row, it is considered poor sportsmanship to attribute their win to luck.

Often, when a match appears to have been won purely because of luck, it was in part due to the skill needed to set up the pieces in good positions, waiting for good rolls. This applies to calling bad rolls as well. For the most part, do not comment on rolls, for good or bad.

Do not pick up or touch the doubling cube unless it is your intention to use it. Even if you are trying to think, this can be a form of cheating, hoping to gauge your opponent’s reaction to you grabbing the cube.

Never grow too impatient with your rolls. If your opponent appears in any way to still be thinking, looking at his dice or observing the board, wait to roll your dice. This saves arguments from ensuing about whether a roll counts.

Do not rub in your moves to your opponent. This includes laughing or making noises when they receive a bad roll just as much as exclaiming when you receive a good roll. Be polite and respectful of the game.

Be respectful of the game and refrain from talking to other people or on your phone. This includes anything that takes your attention from the game. Similarly, do not write emails, IM friends, and watch TV at the same time as playing backgammon online. The extra time you spend doing so is disrespectful to your opponent.

One of the most important things you can refrain from doing is wasting large amounts of time. That’s not to say you should hurry yourself or rush a hard decision. Everyone takes a little bit of time to think over their moves and ensure they have everything right. However, certain instances call for less time than others – mainly, do not waste large sums of time early in the game.

The longer the game drags on, the more stressful it becomes for both players and the more one player might become angry when they lose. Anyone could play a better game with enough time to observe their moves, but the differential should be carefully measured. The rule is slightly more pronounced with online play. Users who take a long time to check their moves online could easily be using a third party computer program to cheat. If a user ever needs or desires a break while online, ensure it is done before the roll and that it is communicated clearly.

Reminders

If you have done any of the things listed above, do not feel as though you are a horribly rude player. Everyone does these things at times. However, if you ensure that you are mindful of your actions and their effect on other players, you can make yours and your opponent’s matches much more fun and less stressful. Just try to remember the effect your actions have on those around you and you should have a good time.