Backgammon Tips

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!