Backgammon Information

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general game plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!