Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three main plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it's better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!