Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief game plans used. You must be able to switch tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!