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A Blot, a Split, and a SlotMore often than not, you'll see backgammon players who wait until they roll a double before they move their runners off their opponent's ace-point. This is, unfortunately, one of the main reasons why they frequently get gammoned. Since we don't play to lose, there's one fact that we should learn to accept - we're going to have to leave a blot from a split or a slot, whether we like it or not. A blot is a single checker on a point that's vulnerable to be hit. If you're thinking that it means that all single checkers on a point are blots, well, you're not entirely wrong. The point here is that you shouldn't be afraid of a blot because there's more to it than meets the eye. Split your runners to build an anchor or run before your opponent builds a strong home board. That's one of the best pieces of advice that you can get to keep from being gammoned. While it only means to separate two checkers (runners or otherwise) that made a point, most of the time you'll end up leaving two blots on the board. But that's a risk you just have to take on. Besides, if you're always wary of a split, your checkers will be over-stacked on a point and that's not good. An over-stack is always bad. If you over-stack on a few points, you'll only be leaving yourself to make forced moves and without any flexibility to improve your play. That's why you should split your checkers or else you'll be seeing candlesticks with no room to build a blockade. Slot on a point to build a block so you'll get in the way of your opponents progress. That's a blocking tactic to hold your opponent back. You slot because you intend to cover it on your next turn to make the point. Ergo, you slot on a point to bring down a builder to make your blockade. If you look at a blot, a split, and a slot, you'll see that a single checker on the board is the starting point for many backgammon strategies. A blot is vulnerable only until you cover it. A split leaves blots but they're blots that can make an anchor or that can be a builder. And finally, a slot brings builders down on a point to cover them for the block on your next turn. With those features, it's easy to see why a single checker on a point is more of a friend than something you want to circumvent. |
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