Backgammon strategy is an essential tool in winning a game

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 862

People who are new to the game of backgammon are sometimes under a misconception that it is primarily a game of chance, but nothing could be further from the truth. Although a great deal depends on the outcome of the dice roll, backgammon strategy is essential to success. In the course of the long history of the game, a sizeable literature has developed that can help the novice player acquire many backgammon strategy tips. In the last few years, the chance to play against backgammon computers has come to offer another way of improving backgammon strategy for players of all levels. You can rely on the fact that the computer has been programmed by people with a good knowledge of the best backgammon tactics, and you can learn a great deal by seeing how this computer plays its game.

Two of the best-known playing strategies are hitting and blockading. Some backgammon experts recommend that if in doubt what move to make, hit one of the opponent's blots (lone checkers) whenever you have the opportunity. Blockading opposing checkers by building a prime is another favorite backgammon strategy. Once you position two checkers on the same point, they are safe from being hit by the opponent’s checkers. By occupying adjacent points in this manner you can form a wall of checkers that prevents the opponent advancing checkers caught behind the prime.

Another area of backgammon tactics requiring some thought and experience are decisions connecting with gambling. For example, deciding on when to accept or decline an offer of a doubling cube depends on some estimation of the probability of who is most likely to win the game from the current playing positions.