Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

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In very general terms, there are 3 main strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor's smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there's no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, considering that you don't have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it's better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!