A Strategy Guide to Winning in Backgammon

Even the casual player knows that in Backgammon, there are several ways to achieve a desired goal, be it to set up an anchor or a blot. But what happens next? Part of a winning Backgammon play is not just achieving an objective but also using that play to set up the next step.

Because the end goal of Backgammon is to bear off the pieces (with the exception of variants, of course), it often becomes the sole focus of the player. Part of your Backgammon strategy must incorporate subsequent plays and alternate scenarios. Think of Backgammon as something like chess; you have to plan not just for this move, but for the next one as well.

Of the positions on the board vital to a Backgammon strategy, one of the most important ones that you will have to get is the 5 point. If you can get a piece on your own 5 point, that is good, but it is even better if you can anchor one on the opponent's as well.

This position is often called the Golden Point because it can effectively change the momentum and shift of power in Backgammon. It is the best area to get back your piece once it gets hit and is also a valuable place when it comes to blocking your opponent. Other positions that should be occupied are the 20 and 21 points.

As the game progresses and evolves, so does the needed Backgammon strategy to win the game. As the bearing off period approaches, strive to get your checkers at the 22 and 23 spots. Establishing anchors here at the late stages in the game will be a great advantage.

The other checkers can be used for attacking, but if you are short in numbers, make sure that your checker is more than seven paces ahead of the opposing checker, as this is the number that will often come up in the roll.

If you are trailing, and your checkers are down in number, the best option is the Back Game. Bear in mind though, that to have a chance here you need to have at least two anchors, the deeper in the opposing inner board the better. In this case, you will want to have low numbered rolls because you need to keep those anchors in place to get a hit.

If you do get high rolls, what you can do is apply them on your remaining checkers. Regardless, if you are able to keep those anchors in place, you will hit your opponent's checker. And when this happens and you get the high rolls, you will be able to turn the game around.

Backgammon strategy guides, in the age of the Internet, are a dime in a dozen, but not all of them will actually work when playing the game. The more you play amnd research the game, the greater chances you will have of pulling off and winning seemingly lost games.