Backgammon Information

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are three general tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!