Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general game plans used. You must be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

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

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 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 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there's no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!