W

Wash: 1. To switch points and hit an opposing checker. See switch points. 2. To settle a cube in a money game for zero points. He had a double shot to hit the blot for the win, so they agreed to wash the 16 cube.

Wastage: The amount of pips wasted during the bear off because of checkers on deeper points. Used to adjust the pip count to get a more accurate idea of how many rolls it will take to bear off all the checkers. When trying to save a gammon it is important not to have any wastage.

Ways: See Combinations.

Weaver: When a move is purposefully misplayed in hopes of tempting an opponent to take a double on the next turn. When you think your opponent will drop a double you plan on giving the next turn due to your strong position, you may make a weaver that is just effective enough for your opponent to think they have enough of a chance of winning to take your double.

White: One of the players in the game, playing the lighter colored checkers.

Whopper: A big blunder or mistake in a checker play or cube decision. See double whopper.