Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor's lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there's no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you don't have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!