Backgammon – Three Main Strategies

In very general terms, there are three chief game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!

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