Backgammon Information

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief tactics used. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual 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 required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!