Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent's lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it's more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!