Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic game plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchors are close to your competitor's lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don't have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it's more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!