Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent's lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: besides, there's no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, because you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it's more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!