M

Main Flight - In an elimination tournament, the group in which players start and compete in until they lose.

Major Split - Moving one of your two stones from the opponent's one-point to his four- or five-point.

Make a Point - To place two stones together on one point so they form a block or an anchor. Man - Stone, piece, checker.

Mandatory Double - A game in match play where the doubling cube has reached a high-enough level that it represents sufficient points for the leader to win the match. The trailer has nothing to lose by doubling at this point.

Mandatory Take - In post-Crawford game play, if the leader is offered a double when the trailing player has an odd number of points to go, the leader should almost always accept the double.

Market - An opportunity to offer a double which will probably be accepted by the opponent.

Market Gainer - A sequence of two dice casts in which a game changes from a position in which your opponent would refuse a double to a position in which he would accept a double.

Market Loser - A sequence of two dice casts in which a game changes from a position in which your opponent would accept a double to a position in which he would refuse a double.

Match - A series of games between two players which ends when one player acquires a predetermined number of points.

Material - Builders.

Middle Game - The main body of the game, which begins after each player has settled on their his initial game plan.

Mid-Point - Your twelve-point , where you have five stones at the beginning of the game.

Minor Split - Moving one of your two stones from the opponent's one-point to the opponent's two-point or three-point.

Mobility - The degree to which a position allows dice rolls to be played freely while maintaining the position's key features.

Monte Carlo - Location of the annual World Championship of backgammon.

Move - The moving of a stone the number of points showing on one of the rolled dice.

Move Around the Corner - A move from the opponent's outer board to the player's outer board.

Move Down - Move around the corner.

Move In - - A move from the bar to the opponent's home board or a move from your outer board to your home board.

Move Off - Bear off.

Move Out - A move from the opponent's home board to the opponent's outer board.

Move Up - A move forward within the opponent's home board.

Mutual Holding Game - A game in which both players hold advanced anchors on the opponent's side of the board in an attempt to hinder the opponent as he tries to bring his stones home.