Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three general tactics used. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!