Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer 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 roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are towards your competitor's lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there's no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!