Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three general game plans employed. You want to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent's smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!