<p>Paul Magriel's notation system originally appeared in his 1976 book <em><a href="https://g.co/kgs/cN6oCk" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Backgammon</a></em>, and is mostly just a codification of notations systems that existed at the time.<br>
This could be considered the <em>"official"</em> specification for the notation, but really it's usage is just customary.</p>

<p>His followup <em><a href="https://g.co/kgs/PVbgHh" rel="nofollow noreferrer">An Introduction to Backgammon</a></em> also includes the notation, but has an easier to follow explanation as it is targeted at beginners.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-12-01T22:30:26.703Z
2019-12-01T22:30:26.703Z
KMR
<p>I have recently become completely obsessed with Backgammon and I would like to learn more about the "Magriel notation" (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backgammon_notation" rel="nofollow noreferrer">link</a>) used to formally describe a game of BG.</p>

<p>So is there a <strong>definitive</strong>, <em>formal specification</em> document for the Magriel notation?</p>

<p>Failing that, is there some online archive of real-world games that have been stored (correctly) in this notation that one could download and examine?</p>

<backgammon><notation>
Backgammon move notation - Is there an official, rigorous specification?
Wossname
# Backgammon move notation - Is there an official, rigorous specification?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-11-30)

I have recently become completely obsessed with Backgammon and I would like to learn more about the "Magriel notation" ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backgammon_notation)) used to formally describe a game of BG.

So is there a **definitive**, *formal specification* document for the Magriel notation?

Failing that, is there some online archive of real-world games that have been stored (correctly) in this notation that one could download and examine?

**Tags:** backgammon, notation


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2019-12-01. Score: 2

Paul Magriel's notation system originally appeared in his 1976 book *[Backgammon](https://g.co/kgs/cN6oCk)*, and is mostly just a codification of notations systems that existed at the time.  
This could be considered the *"official"* specification for the notation, but really it's usage is just customary.

His followup *[An Introduction to Backgammon](https://g.co/kgs/PVbgHh)* also includes the notation, but has an easier to follow explanation as it is targeted at beginners.


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