Backgammon Information

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In very simple terms, there are 3 basic tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!