Backgammon Tricks

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In very simple terms, there are 3 basic strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s 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 challenger is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!