“H” Backgammon Terms

To hit an opposing blot and while leaving your own blot(s) in danger of a return hit, particularly in your own home board.

To hit an opposing blot sitting on the front edge of a partial prime to keep the blot from escaping.

A strategy used when you are behind in the race and your opponent has escaped his runners. You make an advanced anchor on the opponent's side of the board and hold on to it as long as you can with the idea of hindering the opponent from bearing in safely. Compare: Back Game.

The defensive point (2) you control when playing a holding game, usually the opponent's four-point, five-point, or bar-point.

[Named after Tim Holland, who proposed the rule.]  An optional rule in match play that was popular in the 1980's but is now rarely used. After the Crawford game a player may not double until at least two rolls have been played by each side. See post by Kit Woolsey.

Home board.

The quadrant containing your one-point through six-point. It is the last quadrant your checkers move to before they are borne off. It is also the quadrant your opponent must use to enter any of his checkers sitting on the bar. Your home board is also called your inner board or inner table.

The number of plies played in each trial of a truncated rollout. A rollout that is truncated after 10 plies has a 10-ply horizon.

A player who, by charm or other means, persuades another player to take part in game where the other player is at a disadvantage.

A backgammon variant where each player has just three checkers.  See: How to Play Hyper-Backgammon.