Backgammon Tips

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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You must be able to switch game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. 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 continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!