Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious calamity considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are near your opponent's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there's no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don't have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!