Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in your opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are close to your opponent's lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there's no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don't have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!