Strategic Moves in Backgammon

You are now familiar with the Backgammon Board as well as the distribution of points, so now lets delve into 'How to Move' the checkers. There are some combinations that are of great help in the beginning. Experts say these combinations are 6+1, 3+1, 4+2, 5+3, and 6+5 etc. Any double in the beginning is highly beneficial, the reason being is that you can quickly create a blockade. You must look for some blockades to prevent the free movement of your opponent. Some special double combinations like 1+1, 2+2 in the beginning are also equally helpful.

Now let?s look at the move 3+1. One checker moves from the point 18 to the point 15 and the other can go from point 15 to point 14.Think from a very crucial but different angle about the move 3+1. You may also move one checker from row 15 to row 18 for the score 3 and the other checker from row 17 to row 18 for the score 1. You can clearly notice by these moves you are trying to build up blockades. Who doesn?t know that a blockade in the beginning gives you the control of the game?

If you can create blockades in 6 successive rows, you create the strongest defense called a prime. Remember, your opponent can never move from behind a prime. Even if a prime is not possible, you may try three successive blockades. Notice the impact. By three successive blockades you are restraining your opponent from playing the numbers 4, 5 and 6. So, even if you go by the probability factor, you are forcing your opponent to waste 0.5 % of his moves!

Now the backgammon world attaches high importance to the term 'double 6'. Double 6 gives you the opportunity of bringing 2 checkers from row 1 to row 7 and also 2 checkers from row 12 to row 18. Now if row 7 and row 18 are blocked, you are literally blocking 6 gates for your opponent. You can play any double like double 4, double 3 and so on. You must use them to gain maximum mileage and hence double your chances of winning in the end. For a double 4, experts advise you to move 2 checkers from row 12 to row 20 to build up a blockade. The similar movements of the two checkers from row 1 to row 5 and 2 checkers from row 12 to row 16 can be equally helpful. These movements have been found to be of high strategic importance to add on mileage at the very beginning of a game.