Backgammon Tips Winning Backgammon Tips

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In very simple terms, there are three general strategies used. You must be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent's pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent's smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this case, it's better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!