Backgammon Tips

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic techniques used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time 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 checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!