Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in your opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start 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 continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent's smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don't have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!