Backgammon Opening: The Lover's Leap

Who thought backgammon could be so romantic? Well, it's not. Sorry, but this has less to do with lovers than with an opening roll in the game. The "lover's leap" is referred to a six-five start where a piece from your 24th point (or your opponent's one-point) is advanced to your 13th point.

A six-five opening has the highest pip count that can be played at the beginning of the game. Since doubles are not allowed at the game's onset, the player who gets to move 11 pips may take the lover's leap.

There has been some difference of opinion regarding the lover's leap. But despite the disagreements, this is the most popular move with a six-five start. And it's popular because of the logic that backs it up.

First of all, running a checker from the opponent's one point halfway across the board significantly lowers your pip count. That's the number of pips it takes to get one's entire checkers off the board. This move places one in a considerable lead against the opponent.

Some players may see this move as over-stacking your 13th point. But there's nothing wrong with that! If you are going to pile checkers on a point, there's no better spot to do it than on the 13th point. By the way, it's also called your mid-point or comfort point. The mid-point is a safe spot where you can congregate your builders and safely land your back runners.

And don't worry about that lone checker on your 24th point too. What's your opponent going to do? Hit it? Bring it on! Your opponent will just waste the chance to cover your lead. You'll just re-enter with any two to five roll from the bar anyway.

Making a lover's leap is a running strategy that will carry on through the game of high dice rolls. Almost immediately, you can advance the blot on your 24th point while you set up the builders on your outer board. And that won't be too hard with builders on your mid-point all ready to go.

The lover's leap is not as daring as it is logical for a starting checker move in backgammon. It is the best move with a six-five opening. You'll be advancing a back checker to the safe midpoint or comfort point. You'll be adding to the builders for your inner and outer boards. And it is all done safely and without worry.