Backgammon Information

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In very general terms, there are three general plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the 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 assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

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

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!