Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three chief strategies used. You want to be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor's home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your opponent's lower points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there's no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!