Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent's home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor's smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, considering that you don't have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it's better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!