Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In very simple terms, there are 3 main game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in the opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor's smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there's no point having 2 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 moving their pieces home, seeing that you don't have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!