Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 chief techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in the competitor's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your opponent's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there's no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don't have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!