Primarily used in Backgammon, but the term may be applied to describe the finish of many race games as well. The goal of the counters (checkers) in Backgammon is to take the counters around the course of the board and finally off of the board to complete their objective. The final act of bringing them off of the board is deemed "bearing them off". It is akin to imagining that there is an additional cell beyond the last one shown on the board.