ANCHOR  
Also known as a block or “closed point”, is a point that is blocked by two or more checkers in the opponent's home board.
  BACK GAME  
A strategy to employ if you are substantially behind in a game, but have one or more anchors in the opponent's home board. The idea is to wait for the opponent to be forces to leave a blot and then knock that checker off. In order to prevent the opponent from entering checker from the bar you must arrange a blockade, preferably a “prime” in the opponent's home board.
  BLITZ  
The purpose of a Blitz is to prevent the opponent from escaping by blocking points in your home board when the opponent has one or more checkers on the bar.
  BLOCKING GAME  
This is a game where your aim is to block your opponent by building a blockade over several points. The ultimate blockade is a “prime” - a blockade covering six points.
CHECKER
Piece or stone. Every player has 15 checkers, pieces, to move around the board.
DOUBLES
Also known as doublets, this is a roll where both dice show the same number (two threes, two fours, etc.). When rolling doubles, the player can move twice as many pips as the dice show. If you roll two threes, you can move four times three pips in any combination of ways. For example, you could move one checker a total of 12 pips or move two checkers six pips each. If you wish, you could also move four checkers three pips each.
HIT
A hit is when you knock off your opponent's checker and place it on the bar. This can happen if the opponent has left a sole checker (a blot) on a point.
HOLDING GAME
This is a positional game where you have an anchor (a point blocked by two or more checkers) in your opponent's home board. The goal is to prevent your opponent from bearing in his checkers for as long as possible.
LEAVING A BLOT
This is when you leave a sole checker sitting on a point. Consequently, it is vulnerable to be hit.
PIP
The number of steps on the board based on the point numbers, for example; point 13 is six pips from point 7. A pip can also be a spot on the die indicating its numerical value.
POINT
A triangle on the board.
PRIME
A blockade over six points. You can completely block your opponent if arrange a blockade over six tongues.
RACING POSITION
This is a game where the opponents have no contact with each other, such as blocking a point in the opponent's home board. Thus, everything is about bearing in all your of checkers as quickly as possible, in order to bear them off. This can be a good strategy for beginners.
THE BAR
The ridge or wall dividing the board into two halves. Any checker that is hit is placed on the bar.
TOUCHING DOWN
This is when a checker temporarily lands on a point after having moved the number of pips on one die, and then continues to move in accordance with the other die.
POINT
One of the 24 triangles on the board. The points are numbered from 1-24, or 2 × 1-12.