How Scoring Works
Backgammon UK uses two scoring systems that run side by side. Your points track your overall activity across all games, while your rating measures your competitive skill against other human players.
Points
Every game you play earns or costs you points, whether you are playing against the computer or another person. Points reflect the time and effort you have put into the game. They go up when you win and down when you lose.
The number of points at stake depends on the result type and the doubling cube value:
| Result | Base Points |
|---|---|
| Normal win | 1 point |
| Gammon | 2 points |
| Backgammon | 3 points |
If the doubling cube is in play, the base points are multiplied by the cube value. So a gammon with the cube on 4 is worth 8 points.
If hints are enabled, they affect your points. Using hints reduces your points by a percentage. Finishing a game with hints available but unused gives you a 10% bonus instead.
AI Difficulty Bonus
When playing against the computer, the difficulty level affects how many points are at stake. Harder opponents reward more points for a win, but also cost more when you lose. This keeps the risk and reward balanced.
| Difficulty | Multiplier | Normal | Gammon | Backgammon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | x0.5 | 1 pt | 1 pt | 2 pts |
| Medium | x1.0 | 1 pt | 2 pts | 3 pts |
| Hard | x1.5 | 2 pts | 3 pts | 5 pts |
| Expert | x2.0 | 2 pts | 4 pts | 6 pts |
The difficulty multiplier stacks with the doubling cube. So a gammon with the cube on 4 against the Expert AI is worth 2 x 4 x 2.0 = 16 points. Every game awards at least 1 point regardless of the multiplier.
This multiplier only affects points. It has no effect on PvP games or on Elo ratings.
Elo Rating
Your Elo rating measures how you perform against other human players. It starts at 1,500 and moves up when you win, down when you lose. Games against the computer do not affect your rating.
The key idea is simple: beating a stronger opponent earns you more than beating a weaker one, and losing to a weaker opponent costs you more than losing to a stronger one. Over time, your rating settles at a level that reflects your true playing strength.
How much does my rating change?
The size of each change depends on three things: the gap between your rating and your opponent's, how many rated games you have played, and how the game ended.
Rating gap: If you beat someone rated much higher than you, you gain a lot. If you beat someone rated much lower, you gain very little. The system expects the higher-rated player to win, so an upset is rewarded generously.
New player bonus: For your first 20 rated games, your rating moves faster. This helps your rating settle at the right level quickly. After 20 games, changes become smaller and more stable.
Stakes multiplier: Gammons and backgammons carry more weight than a normal win. This rewards dominant victories. The doubling cube value does not affect your rating change, only your points.
| Result | Rating Multiplier |
|---|---|
| Normal win | x1.0 |
| Gammon | x1.5 |
| Backgammon | x2.0 |
Worked examples
These examples show how ratings change in different situations.
Example 1: Evenly matched players
Player A (rated 1,500) beats Player B (rated 1,500) in a normal game. Both players are established (20+ games). Each had a 50% chance of winning, so Player A gains +8 points and Player B loses -8 points.
Example 2: The underdog wins
Player A (rated 750) beats Player B (rated 1,850) in a normal game. Player A had only a 1.8% chance of winning. The upset earns Player A +15.7 points, while Player B loses -15.7 points.
Example 3: The favourite wins
Player A (rated 1,850) beats Player B (rated 750) in a normal game. Player A was expected to win (98.2% chance), so the gain is tiny: just +0.3 points. Player B loses -0.3 points.
Example 4: Gammon bonus
Player A (rated 750) beats Player B (rated 800) with a gammon. The 1.5x stakes multiplier means a larger swing: Player A gains +13.7 points and Player B loses -13.7 points.
Rating tiers
Your rating places you in a tier that gives a quick sense of your playing level.
| Rating | Tier |
|---|---|
| 1,900+ | Master |
| 1,700 - 1,899 | Expert |
| 1,500 - 1,699 | Advanced |
| 1,300 - 1,499 | Skilled |
| 1,000 - 1,299 | Intermediate |
| Below 1,000 | Beginner |
Points vs Rating
Points and rating serve different purposes. Your points go up steadily the more you play, rewarding dedication and effort. Your rating reflects competitive skill and can go up or down depending on results.
A player with high points but a modest rating has played a lot of games, mostly against the computer. A player with a high rating but fewer points has proven themselves in competitive PvP play. Both are valuable measures.
Computer games are great for practice, learning, and enjoyment, and they build your points total. When you are ready to test your skills against real opponents, jump into a PvP game and start building your rating. You can see how you compare with other players on the Leaderboard.