“S” Backgammon Terms

Free from danger of being hit.

See: Magriel's Safe-Bold Criteria.

A play that leaves no blots, or a play that leaves blots only in positions where the opponent is unlikely to hit.  Compare: Bold Play.

Move a checker out of danger of being hit.

Cover a blot or move it out of range of being hit.

To conceal or misrepresent your true ability.

To enter a tournament division below your skill level.

To leave a position in which a particular number will play comfortably next turn so you will not be forced you to destroy your position if you roll that number. Typically, you save a number to avoid having to leave a shot or break a valuable point.  Compare: Kill a Number.

To escape all of your checkers from the opponent's home board before he is able to bear off all of his own checkers, and thereby avoid losing a backgammon (2).

To bear off one of your own checkers before the opponent has borne off all of his, and thereby avoid losing a gammon.

Cover a blot.

See: Random Seed.

A competitor in a tournament whose position in the draw is predetermined to ensure that he will not meet other seeded players in the early rounds of an elimination event. See this thread.