🎲 What Is Backgammon Precision Dice?
A Complete Guide for Serious Backgammon Players
Backgammon precision dice are essential tools for competitive and professional players who want to ensure fair, unbiased dice rolls. Unlike standard plastic dice, precision dice are manufactured to exact specifications and used in major tournaments like the Ultimate Backgammon Championship (UBC) and the Backgammon World Championship (BGWC).
In this article, we’ll explain:
- What precision dice are
- How they differ from regular dice
- Why they matter in competitive play
🔍 What Are Backgammon Precision Dice?
Precision dice are dice crafted with extreme accuracy to ensure every roll is fair and truly random. These dice are:
- Perfectly balanced in weight
- Milled to exact dimensions (typically 12mm, 14mm and 16mm)
- Made with centered, uniform pips (dots)
- Often used with baffle boxes to eliminate bias
Precision dice are commonly made from acrylic or Delrin, and are used by serious backgammon players and tournament organizers worldwide.
⚖️ Why Use Precision Dice in Backgammon?
Regular dice are mass-produced and often contain flaws:
- Air bubbles in the plastic
- Off-center or uneven pips
- Inconsistent size or edge rounding
- May be hand polished
These issues can lead to biased rolls over time — especially in long sessions or high-stakes matches. That’s why precision dice are required in most official backgammon tournaments.
Some makers of precision dice add serial numbers, which will add bias to the die, rendering them void as real precision dice. The history of serial numbers is uncertain, but was likely an attempt at adding authenticity to dice.
Using precision dice helps to:
- Improve fairness
- Prevent disputes
- Ensure professional-level integrity
🎯 Who Should Use Precision Dice?
Precision dice are perfect for:
- Serious casual players who value accuracy
- Tournament participants at all levels
- Backgammon clubs hosting rated matches
- Collectors who want authentic gear
- Teaching environments that require consistent outcomes
🆚 Precision Dice vs. Standard Dice
| Feature | Precision Dice | Standard Dice |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturing method | CNC-milled | Mass-produced plastic, hand-polished |
| Weight distribution | Perfectly balanced | Often uneven due to pip drilling |
| Dot placement (pips) | Centered and inlaid | Drilled and ink-filled |
📘 Related Resources
🧠 Final Thoughts
Backgammon precision dice may seem like a small upgrade — but for players who care about fair, consistent gameplay, they’re a game-changer. Whether you're preparing for your first tournament or just want to eliminate doubt in friendly matches, investing in quality dice is a simple step toward mastery.