Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in your opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there's no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!