Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main techniques used. You must be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!