To Hit or Not to Hit? The Question for Savvy Backgammon Players

As we know all too well in our game of backgammon, the best laid plans of dice and men can often go astray. No matter how meticulous we are in maneuvering our checkers to just the right pips and setting up various blocks along the path for our opponents, we sometimes are done in by a rather cruel roll of the dice and forced to play the next few rolls with a man or two exposed – perhaps even 3-4 at a time – traveling solo in search of a safe landing and teaming with another piece of ours. And, of course, the same holds true for our opponent. It is at just these times that the less-than-experienced players (or perhaps the more emotional ones) lose their cool and forgo a defensive, safer strategy and instead their eyes widen and perhaps even small droplets of drool might appear on the corners of their lips as they eagerly look to hit every exposed piece their opponent has left vulnerable.

Yes, some players even lapse into this "twilight zone" of duck hunting mentality even when they know better. We've seen some who would knock up two opponent's checkers to the bar even though their own home court is littered with open, exposed pieces - leaving room for self-destruction if your opponent bears off with that optimum roll combination (for him or her).

So when is it better to hit, or when is it better to play it safe? Actually, this is what they write books on backgammon for!