Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three main tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor's lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there's no reason having two 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 shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don't have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it's more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!