Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious trouble seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!