There is a common practice of using the pip count as some sort of Holy Grail in backgammon but its primary use is basically in positions where the game has turned into a race. In the middle game where the chances of a game turning into a race are minimal then there is little point in doing the head work involved in keeping track of the pip count. There will be enough fluid strategic concepts to concentrate on without you having all this extra mental work.
Another factor in game play arrives when a player is holding another player. These positions are of strategic interest as the game is far more likely in these instances to evolve into a race. This is where a good knowledge of the pip count in backgammon comes in very useful as it highlights not only correct strategy but also correct doubling procedures.
Therefore when you are in a holding pattern in the middle game and especially in late middle game play then it is very useful to know the pip count. In future articles I will go into details of various ways of keeping the count and there are three main systems. Each system will suit different people but it is also worth mentioning what the pip count actually is. It is basically a count of how many pips a player needs to throw to get all their men off the board. So a player who had a pip count of 71 would have a large advantage over a player who had a pip count of 98 and especially if they were on throw.
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