Backgammon tournament

The Blot-Phobia Syndrome

"Blot"-phobia is a backgammon condition where the sufferers are terrified of leaving a lone checker of theirs on the board. This purely non-medical condition (more like an irritating condition) strikes those who play too safe in backgammon.

Blot-phobics cringe at the thought of being hit so they delay the game's flow by taking too long in deciding which checker to move on a roll. Although the most susceptible group includes backgammon novices and there is no external sign of the syndrome until they play the board, diagnosis is fairly simple.

When you hear an exasperated plea, "Just move a checker!" that's when it's a positive finding. As to who's the victim, well if you're the one pleading, it's your opponent. But if you're the unlucky recipient, sorry to tell you this but you're suffering from blot-phobia.

If only chess clocks are used in each and every game… well, unfortunately, they're not. So, the best solution is to cure a sufferer's blot-phobia. While this may naturally go away over time and over several (or more) games, all the same, it can only help to know how to stop it sooner rather than later.

The first step is to acknowledge and say, "A blot is a friend". A lone checker on the board isn't as bad as it looks. Experts can tell you that leaving a lone checker can work to your advantage in most cases and it is used as a tactic in several backgammon strategies too.

For example, when you're behind in backgammon, you may use a strategy called a back game where you want to be sent to the bar. It's because its goal is to re-enter to build an anchor so you can keep your opponent from bearing-in safely while you catch up from behind.

Another example is when it's opportune to hit an enemy checker. A good hit is necessary to gain tempo in the game. If you refuse to hit an opposing checker to your benefit because it'll make you leave a blot, you're better off to concede defeat than to prolong your (and your opponent's) agony.

Taking a risk is necessary in backgammon and you can't keep from leaving a blot on the board. There wouldn't be many people who'd want to play with you if you keep it up. Cure your blot-phobia with understanding that leaving a lone checker is an expected circumstance in the game. If it weren't, backgammon wouldn't be half as motivating and exciting as it has been all these years.