Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three general strategies used. You want to be able to switch tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in your competitor's checkers 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 create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor's lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there's no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!