Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent's smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!