R

Raccoon
Race
Rail
Recirculation
Re-Cube Vig
Re-Double
Re-Enter
Reference Position
Refuse a Double
Return Shot
Roll
Roll Out
Rolling Prime
Root Number
Runners
Running Game

Raccoon: Accepting a Beaver and offering another double at the same time while retaining possession of the cube. Beavers are fairly rare but seeing a Raccoon is even more unlikely.

Race: The object of the game is to race around the board and bear off all of your checkers. Backgammon essentially boils down to a race with various strategy to win the race thrown in.

Rail: See Bar.

Railroad Tracks: See Candlesticks.

Recirculation: Keeping checkers in play by having them hit and re-entering them in your opponents home board. Recirculation is often a necessary element of a well timed backgame.

Re-Cube Vig (Recube-Vigorish): The added equity attained by possessing the ability to Re-Double if the opportunity arises. There are some cubes you would not accept if it were not for the Re-cube Vig.

Re-double: After accepting the cube and doubling the stakes of the game, a player can then re-double the opponent, again doubling the stakes. If you accept a double when your opponent is two away from winning, you have nothing to lose with a Re-double.

Re-enter: See Enter.

Reference Position: A position where the equity or chances of winning are known. This position can be used to help evaluate similar positions. Having a few reference positions for various types of games will go a long way in helping you make cube decisions.

Refuse a Double (Reject a Double): See Pass.

Return Shot: The shot your opponent will have back at you after you have hit them. If you hit loose in your inner board, your opponent always has a return shot.

Rim: See Bar.

Roll: To throw the dice, or the numbers thrown. An opening roll of 3-1 is usually used to make your 5 pt.

Roll Out: Taking a position and playing it out many times to get a better idea of what will typically occur during a game. Bots are often used to do rollouts as they can accomplish this task very quickly and give an accurate estimate of a position's equity.

Rolling Prime: A special technique for advancing a prime around the board. You can achieve a rolling prime by slotting the next point you want to make and using your extra checkers to make the point.

Roof: See Bar.

Root Number: A particular roll (usually doubles) that causes an inner board or prime to crunch. If you are stuck behind a 5 point prime with poor timing, a root number like double 4's can be disastrous.

Runners: The two pieces starting on the opponents 1 pt. It is usually an early objective to get your runners moving and escape or establish an advanced anchor.

Running Game: A strategy whereby a player tries to move their men home as quickly as possible, avoiding blockades and being hit as much as they can. Weaker players have a better chance of winning if they use a running game strategy and avoid contact.