Successful Blots Strategy
Usually it is very difficult to remain or to prevent your blot from getting hit and losing a player. It is only very clever or experienced players who are able to protect their blots to a very good extent. In fact, should you ask any experienced player who has lost a backgammon game and they will tell you that the point from when the game went bad for them was when they lost a checker to their opponent and got hit on a blot.
However most players at least take one hit during the game and are sent to the bar to await their turn as they have to re-enter their lost checker before normal play can be resumed. The key therefore is to minimize the number of hits you take and to maximize the number of hits you make.
All this may sound simple but takes careful planning and an astute alertness while playing.In addition to trying to keep your blots out of harm’s way which is often nearly impossible, there is also the matter of making some smart sacrifices. This is an advanced means of playing the game and is not seen commonly with amateur or beginner players. In this strategy a player allows a few of his blots to get taken in order to establish anchors in his opponent’s home board.
This is a very good idea should the player take an unexpected hit as it provides a landing spot should he need one and does not slow his game as much as it could have.
This particular method also serves a very important function as not only does it provide a player with a safe landing space in his opponent’s board should he happen to lose a checker but also prevents the opponent from building up his home board.
Another important strategy to be remembered with blots is that it is not necessary to make a hit whenever there is opportunity to do so. For instance, if your opponent already has a few checkers lined up on the bar that need to be re-entered, then it is not vital that you make a hit, especially if that hit will put your checker in a vulnerable position.
When looking out to hit blots seek out the blots that your opponent has placed in a position where it is easy to make a point. Destroy your opponent’s opportunities to make a few points as well as take out some of his blots and keep them waiting on the bar. Do not allow your opponent to establish a prime as this will close the board to you and give your opponent a monopoly of the game.
A combination of these various strategies will prove to be very successful. However a good player is created only with practice and a great many games will be lost before a champion is created.
Gregory Peters - Game Analyst
