Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You need to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the competitor's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor's lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, because you don't have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!