Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don't have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!