Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic strategies employed. You must be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious trouble taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!