Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 main techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!

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