Backgammon Tips

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three main tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!