Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

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In very general terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor's home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor's lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there's no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don't have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!