Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In very general terms, there are three main tactics used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor's lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, because you do not have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!