Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In very general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to block in your opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchors are towards your competitor's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there's no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you don't have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it's better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!