Backgammon Tricks

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!