Backgammon All About Backgammon

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

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor's lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it's more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!