Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general game plans employed. You must be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty 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 two or higher pieces in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your opponent's lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there's no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it's more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!