Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You need to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in the competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent's lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!