Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In very general terms, there are 3 chief techniques employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don't have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it's more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!