Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general game plans used. You must be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!