Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental techniques employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!