Backgammon Secrets

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the opponent’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 create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!