Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

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In very general terms, there are 3 basic techniques used. You need to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining 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 advances.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there's no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don't have any 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 challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!