Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three chief game plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to block in your competitor's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent's lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!