Backgammon Secrets

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general game plans employed. You need to be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!