Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief game plans employed. You want to be able to switch tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!