Backgammon Lesson: Blot Exposure
Exposure in backgammon basically pertains to leaving vulnerable blots on the board. Since they're inevitable and necessary risks in a backgammon game, it's always important to know when it's relatively safe or not to expose them. So what is the general backgammon lesson about blot exposure?
This backgammon lesson on blot exposure progresses from the beginning, middle and end parts of a game. Of course, depending on specific circumstances, one should be able to adjust their checker exposure to work around their opponent's plan.
Early on, one can be fairly bold about leaving blots on the backgammon board. This is important in order to slot on key points and gain lead in the pip count.
Evidenced by a popular opening play for a five-four roll where the latter pip move is used to slot on the 20-point, the blot exposure here serves several purposes. These include the possibility that it can be covered on the next roll and it can run to the mid-point to gain a good lead as well.
A player's complacency about more blot exposure during the beginning phase of a backgammon game will decline as players reach the middle part of the game's course. One of the instances when this decline is apparent occurs when the opponent has significantly gained control over their inner board.
At this point, it's very risky to leave a shot when it has minimal chances of re-entering immediately after being hit. However, one can counter this risk if they have an anchor on the opponent's home board. It's important to maintain that anchor though, as one strengthens their inner board in case a back game is imminent.
If you find yourself leading the pip count in the end phase of the game, it's important to minimize blot exposure. That's vital to preserve that lead assuming there's still contact on the backgammon board. And in the event that it turns in to a pure race where contact is already broken, running (regardless of exposure) becomes a definite approach.
The backgammon lesson on blot exposure covers the range of risks that a lone checker presents. As a backgammon game commences, one can be bold about leaving blots since they're necessary to slot on points and to advance quickly. In case your opponent has significantly gained control of their inner board, the risk of being hit cannot be undermined. Also, when you're ahead in the count, you should be careful about leaving shots because you have to think about keeping that lead. Armed with these general tips about leaving blots, it's still important to be able to gauge the amount of exposure one's willing to take and adjust their plays accordingly to win the game.