Volunteering a shot in backgammon

Last updated on December 3, 2025

Backgammon is a race. The goal is to move your checkers around the board and bear them off faster than your opponent. Usually, losing ground in this race is a bad idea. You want to make safe moves that help your position. Sometimes, though, the board doesn’t give you a choice. When safe plays hurt your chances of winning, or when you can’t make progress without taking a risk, you may need to consider leaving a blot, or “volunteering a shot in backgammon”.

Leaving a blot means one of your checkers is open to being hit by your opponent. It’s a risky move, and it can cost you if your opponent hits. But sometimes, leaving a blot can improve your position if your opponent misses. The decision comes down to weighing risks against rewards and understanding the situation on the board. In this post, we will discuss when leaving a blot makes sense, and when it doesn’t.

When to avoid leaving a blot

There are plenty of times when leaving a blot is just too risky. Here are three situations where it’s better to play it safe:

Your opponent has a strong home board

If your opponent’s home board is well-built, with closed points or a solid prime, it’s dangerous to leave a blot. If they hit your open checker, it will be hard for you to re-enter because their home board blocks your moves. In this case, avoid leaving a direct shot unless you have no other choice.

Your position is strong and flexible

If your own position is solid and your next few rolls will give you easy plays, there’s no need to take unnecessary risks. A flexible position gives you options, so you don’t need to gamble on a risky play. Keep the game steady and wait for a better opportunity to advance safely.

Your opponent’s position is under pressure

If your opponent’s position is overstretched or unstable, they may be forced to break an important point soon. In this situation, it’s smart to wait and play it safe. Let the pressure work in your favour. Forcing your opponent into a mistake without taking risks is always ideal.

When leaving a blot makes sense

Sometimes, though, taking the risk is worth it. Here are a few reasons to leave a blot:

Your opponent’s home board is weak

If your opponent has open points or blots in their home board, it’s easier to re-enter if they hit you. A weak home board reduces the penalty for getting hit, so leaving a blot isn’t as dangerous. In fact, this might be the perfect time to take a calculated risk.

The point is crucial to winning

In some cases, taking control of a key point is critical to your strategy. Maybe it helps you build a prime, block your opponent, or prepare for a strong bear-off. If gaining that point could be the difference between winning and losing, it might be worth leaving a blot to take the chance (Backgammon strategies at The Spruce Crafts).

Your opponent becomes vulnerable after hitting

If your opponent’s position will weaken if they hit your blot, maybe they’ll have to leave their own blots or break up their structure. It’s worth considering. Even if you’re hit, you might have an opportunity to re-enter and attack. This type of risk can turn the game in your favour.

Questions to help you decide

When volunteering a shot in backgammon, ask yourself these key questions. Before making the commitment, you need to understand the risk involved and the potential gains:

How strong is my opponent’s home board?

If your opponent has a strong home board, it makes it hard to re-enter after being hit. If your opponent has a closed board or a strong prime, leaving a blot is very risky. For example, a six-prime within the home board makes it impossible to re-enter from the bar, as every entry point is blocked. In this case, leaving a blot is counterproductive.

What happens if my opponent hits me?

Think about what their position will look like after hitting your blot. Will they leave their own checkers exposed? Will they lose control of key points? If your opponent becomes vulnerable after hitting, then it might be worth taking the risk (Hitting at HowStuffWorks).

Can I afford to wait?

If your position is flexible or your opponent’s position is unstable, patience might be your best strategy. But if time is running out, maybe your opponent is about to escape or lock up the board, you might have no choice but to take a risk.

What do I gain from leaving a blot?

Don’t deliberately leave a blot, unless there is something to gain in subsequent moves. For example, slotting involves moving a single checker to a vacant point with the intention of securing it with another checker on a subsequent roll. It’s a risky tactic, as it leaves a blot. However, if the blot isn’t hit, there is an opportunity to secure the point on the next roll. If that point is valuable, such as the bar point or the 5-point, it may well be worth the risk (Bar-point at USBGF).

Balancing risks and rewards

Leaving a blot is one of the riskiest decisions in backgammon, but it’s also one of the most strategic. The key is understanding when the reward is worth the risk. If the move opens up opportunities, strengthens your position, or puts pressure on your opponent, it might be worth taking the chance. But if the board is stacked against you, like when your opponent has a strong home board, or your position is already solid, it’s better to play safe.

By asking the right questions and evaluating the board carefully, you can make smarter decisions about when to take risks. Practice analysing these situations, and over time, you’ll get better at spotting the right moments to leave a blot. Remember, backgammon is about timing and strategy. Knowing when to play safe and when to take risks is what sets great players apart. Being able to calculate the probability of being hit is an essential skill when volunteering a shot in backgammon.

Summary

Volunteering a shot in backgammon means to purposely leave a blot, even though a safer play was available. It is a risky, but strategic move, usually used when a player wants to gain an advantage on a subsequent move. The player accepts the risk of being hit now, in order to achieve a more favourable long-term position. High-risk, but an essential tactic to have at hand for advanced backgammon players.