Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor's smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, because you don't have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!