Backgammon Information

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In very simple terms, there are three basic plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!