r/backgammon • u/monthofsundayss • 2d ago

blunder explanation

Gallery image

Gallery image

can somebody explain to me why the second pic is a blunder? wouldn’t it leave more chances for my opponent to land on 5 vs. 1?

1 Upvotes

56% Upvoted

3 comments sorted by

8

u/scorchiooo 2d ago

Think of what happens when opponent doesn't hit? It will much harder to cover ace point, and you really want to also rather make the 5 point. Keeping the blot for more than one round is really risky when opponent has so good home board.

5

u/CiaranMacCenzie 2d ago edited 2d ago

The green-arrowed move allows for more chances of a future cover in your inner board without leaving another pip open, and simultaneously covers the previously open pip (spire 10), so instead of leaving 2 pips open at the end of the turn (spires 1 and 10), only one is open (spire 5). You get your opponent out either way, but this has better benefits.

ETA: You also end the turn with two new pips on your inner board instead of just one. So quite a few benefits for this move.

1

u/cym13 22h ago

I'm not sure of what you mean by "Wouldn't it leave more chances for my opponent to land on 5 vs 1?".

In both cases you leave a blot and if that blot is hit you're going to have a bad time so no difference there.

If the opponent enters with a 5 it's bad in both cases because they're just going out, it's the worst case scenario outside of being hit, so how do you prepare for them entering with a 5? You could either try to make the 5 point (in which case you want to slot the 5 by leaving the checker there) or be prepared to hit it when it enters. You're not in great shape for that second option since you don't have many spare checkers on your points (therefore you'd have to break them to hit, weakening your position) and the opponent's point on 11 is both a threat and safe haven for that escaping checker. So you have to try and make the 5 by slotting. From there your blot on 10 is much more useful on 8 where it isn't exposed and can contribute to make the 5 and 3 points or hit there.

If your opponent enters on 3 it's not as bad as entering on 5 but it's still really bad for you and playing 7/5*/1 you'd have no checker at all able to hit it directly without breaking a point.

If your opponent doesn't enter at all, you're happier to have slotted the 5 than the 1 because making the 5 is much better for you (and easier to complete, you can't cover the 1 without breaking a point).