Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three general tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in the opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your opponent's lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there's no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, because you don't have other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!