Backgammon Rules of Play > Backgammon Crawford
The Backgammon Crawford Rule is used in tournaments and all backgammon players should know it
The Crawford Rule is intended to make the final stage of a backgammon match -as well as online backgammon tournaments - fairer for the player in the lead. The rule states that if one player is just one game away from winning a match the game cannot be doubled anymore. For example, a player is just one point away from winning a match, from his opponent's point of view there is nothing to lose so he will double the game regardless of his position and his chances of winning the game.
This means that if one player is just one point away from winning and the other is two points away then they will later on be in the same position when the game is doubled. The trailing player will double the game and whoever wins will take the match. It becomes unfair and a lose-lose situation for the leading player then. The leading player in essence, gains nothing from the doubled game and the trailing player is taking no risk. The hard earned advantage the leading player worked hard for becomes defeated.
In order to prevent this win-win situation or bonus for the trailing player, the Backgammon Crawford rule prevents the players from using the doubling cube during a match where one player is just a point shy from winning the match. The game then becomes a 'Crawford Game'. If the match has not been won, the doubling cube may be allowed again.
The Backgammon Crawford rule is named after the famous 1930s bridge player Johnny Crawford who first suggested the idea. The Crawford rule is commonly used in competitions including online backgammon tournaments and match play and should always be assumed unless otherwise stated.
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