Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three general game plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!