Shot

How it works in play

Counting shots is one of the most useful skills in the game. A blot six pips away with nothing in the way is hit by 17 of the 36 rolls; one seven pips away, by only 6. ‘Leaving a shot’ means leaving a blot the opponent can hit.

Related terms

• Blot — A point occupied by exactly one checker — vulnerable to being hit.
• Indirect shot — A shot that needs both dice combined to hit (a blot 7–12 pips away).
• Hit — Land on an opponent’s blot, sending it to the bar.
• Duplication — Arranging your position so the opponent needs the same number for two different jobs — fewer rolls help them.

Go deeper

• Game plans: the tactics behind every plan
• Backgammon strategy, from first roll to bear-off

In other languages

• العربيةفرصة الضرب (Shot)
• ΕλληνικάΒολή (shot)
• فارسیفرصت زدن (Shot)
• עבריתפגיעה (Shot)
• РусскийВыстрел (shot)
• TürkçeVuruş fırsatı (Shot)