Backgammon Tips

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In very general terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!