“S” Backgammon Terms

A Turkish game similar to Western backgammon (1).  See: How to Play Shesh Besh.

Change game plan.

To give up one point in order to make an adjacent point.

An opportunity to hit an opposing blot. A direct shot is an opportunity to hit using a single number. An indirect shot is an opportunity to hit using both numbers of the dice played with the same checker.

A particular roll of the dice which could hit an enemy blot. When counting shots, you count each doubles roll once and each mixed roll twice to get a total out of 36.

Close out.

A separate tournament prize fund made up of additional optional entry fees which goes to the highest finishing player(s) of those who entered the side pool. The side pool allows a tournament to keep the regular entry fee low while providing players willing to pay a higher entry fee a chance to win more. See post by Daniel Murphy.

Prime (1).

[By analogy to the golden point.]  A term sometimes used for the opponent's four-point, the second best point on which to anchor.

A blot within range of being hit with a single number but for which there are no ways to hit using a combination of numbers on both dice.

Rollout.

A tournament format in which a competitor continues playing until he loses.  See: Elimination Format.  Compare: Double Elimination.

A completed game which is not a gammon or a backgammon (2); a game in which the losing player has borne off at least one checker. The winner of a single game receives the value of the doubling cube only and no bonus.

One blot which can be directly hit one way.  Compare: Double Shot.

The sixth point (1) in a player's home board; the point adjacent to the bar.

To place a single checker on a point (1) you wish to make with the intention of covering the blot on your next turn.

To slot a checker in your own home board while your runners are split.

A safe play when a bolder, more aggressive play is available.  Compare: Big Play.

A backgammon variant in which one player starts with nine checkers on the bar and his remaining six checkers in the opponent's home board.  See: How to Play Snake.

The roll of 1-1 on the dice (double 1's).

The second commercial neural-net backgammon program (1998) after Jellyfish.   Website: Snowie Backgammon.