Backgammon Secrets

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In very general terms, there are three chief tactics used. You must be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble considering 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 anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!