Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are three chief plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in your opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent's home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there's no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, because you don't have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!