Backgammon Secrets

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very simple terms, there are three main techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble 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 is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!