Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In very simple terms, there are three basic plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered 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 move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your opponent's smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is 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 challenger is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it's better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!