Backgammon strategy: building a prime
A prime is a wall of points in a row that your opponent can’t get past. Learn why six points in a row traps their checkers completely. Winning ideas · lesson 3 of 4.
The lesson in words
A prime is a row of made points next to each other. Your opponent’s checkers behind it can only jump as far as a die allows, and no die is bigger than 6.
Six points in a row, a full prime, can’t be passed at all. Here, ivory’s two checkers on your 1 point are trapped.
Points in a row make a wall. Next: counting the race.
Questions
Why can’t ivory’s checkers get past six points in a row?
Each die moves one hop, and the most a die can show is 6. Every landing spot within reach is blocked, even with doubles.