Backgammon Information

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors 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 checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!