When I play against GnuBG and get into an early Blitz game the result is almost always the same. I make the proper double and GnuBG resigns. The only time I really get to practice a Blitz game is when GnuBG is Blitzing me and I accepted a double I shouldn't have accepted.

Now, I keep telling myself that I should edit the position and force GnuBG to accept my double and play out the blitz, but I never actually do this. It seems on one hand, I want to practice the blitz, but on the other hand, I want to beat GnuBG when it is playing its best (or its best at 2-ply for my slow computer).

I practice other positions so that I know what to do. So I should practice these too.

Should I hit and go? Or should I hit and leave my checker slotted? Should I be advancing those backmen or forget about them and concentrate 100% on closing out the board? He has one guy on the bar and my five point is open, so should I take the chance of lots of builders or point a couple of them so they don't get hit if he rolls a 5 but then reduce my chances of closing the 5 point? Of course, the answer to these questions will very depending on variables like the strength of my opponents homeboard, or if I have anchor, or he is anchored on my ace point but has 2 other men on the bar and I can semi-close them out, etc.

So, do you guys/gals ever force GnuBG/XG/Snowie to accept the double so that you can practice a blitz? I have no doubt that I'm weak here in some areas.

Just checking but are you sure you're not doubling too late?

My thought too. Most early blitzes are double and take, so you must be doubling a roll too late. Your questions are all good ones, however. These positions are hard to play.

In GNU Backgammon, you might try using the command Game>Swap players instead of doubling. Then, presuming the computer doubles you, you can accept the double, and swap back to play the rest of the game.

Incidentally, the blitz was the first effective game plan I learned way back when. This was before the age of bots, so I played both sides of the following game a couple of hundred times. My strategy was the one taught by Barclay Cooke: hit inside again and again! It was not as sophisticated as today's blitz strategies, but I learned a lot.

Black rolls 4-3, and plays 13/9, 24/21.
White rolls 4-2, and plays 8/4*, 6/4.
Black fans.
White on roll.

Nactation: 43Z, 42P, Fan, White on roll.

I see one easy solution to this. Dont double. I know you are supposed to but at least its good for practice purposes.

No, I never do that but I guess if you want to practice them you can do it. If you're playing cash games most people use the Jacoby rule so your blitz that's works out perfectly for a 1 point win is thoroughly dissatisfying. What sounds better, 1pt or 4?

Check out taper mikes example. this is an instadouble for cash games w/jacoby.

Blitz's evolve naturally, mostly in the early game but sometimes later, the dice need to be on your side to some degree in order for it to be successful.