Blots, hits and the bar
A single checker on a point is a blot. If an opponent lands there, the opponent’s checker stays on the point and the blot goes to the bar immediately. A hit changes the race because the hit checker starts again from the far end. It can also buy time if the opponent cannot re-enter.
Moving past a blot without landing on its point does nothing to it. A checker can hit twice in one turn if it lands legally on two different blots with the two dice.
Ivory plays 13/10* with the 3 and sends the Umber blot to the bar. Ivory can then play 6/5 with the 1.
Enter before moving anything else
On your next turn, any checker on your bar has priority. Each die allows an entry from the bar into the opponent’s home board. A 1 enters deepest, on your own 24-point. A 6 enters on your 19-point. From Ivory’s perspective, the entry formula is 25 minus the die. For Umber, entry is onto the point whose printed Ivory number equals the die.
If a die’s entry point has two or more opposing checkers, that die cannot enter there. If both entry points are blocked, you stay on the bar and pass the turn. With two checkers on the bar, try to enter both. You can use a leftover die on an on-board checker only once your bar is empty.
The 5 is initially blocked by five Ivory checkers. Umber enters on printed point 2, then can use the 5 to continue to point 7.
Against 5–5, Umber cannot use any of the four 5s because Ivory’s made 5-point blocks entry. The on-board Umber checkers have to wait.
A blot on an entry point can be hit
A bar entry is a landing like any other. If the entry point has exactly one opponent checker, you can hit it on the way in. Leaving a home-board blot when an opponent is on the bar can therefore let them turn the tables in one roll.
When you are choosing between two hits, compare the opponent’s available entries and your own exposed checkers after the full play. One hit followed by a cover can be stronger than a hit that leaves a dangerous return shot.
Ivory has one on the bar. The 3 enters on point 22, hitting Umber’s blot. The 1 can follow as 22/21. The roll starts with the bar even though Ivory has other movable checkers.
Practice question
Ivory has two checkers on the bar and rolls 4–2. Point 21 is blocked and 23 is open. What can Ivory play?
Show answer
Enter one checker on 23 with the 2. The second stays on the bar, so the 4 cannot be used to move any on-board checker.