Backgammon Tips

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!