Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In very simple terms, there are three main game plans used. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor's smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there's no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don't have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!