Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor's smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there's no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, because you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!