Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three main game plans employed. You want to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in the competitor's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral 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 apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it's more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!