Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic techniques used. You must be agile enough to switch tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can 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 assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor's lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!