Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious calamity because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor's lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don't have other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!