Backgammon Tricks

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!