Backgammon All About Backgammon

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent's lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!