Backgammon Information

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are three chief plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!