Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three general techniques employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in your competitor's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer 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 roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then 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 plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent's home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The best places 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 important for a powerful backgame: after all, there's no reason having two nice anchors and a complete 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, seeing that you don't have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!