Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In very general terms, there are three main tactics used. You need to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious calamity seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your competitor's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there's no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, considering that you don't have 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 opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!