Backgammon Information

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are three general plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!