Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic tactics employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your opponent's smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there's no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!