Backgammon Tips

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In very general terms, there are three fundamental plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves 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 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!