Backgammon Information

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In very simple terms, there are 3 chief plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious calamity considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!