Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In very general terms, there are three basic strategies used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent's lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there's no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, because you don't have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it's more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!