Defense against backgame players

Shaker · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 20

I recently played a game of backgammon online against a player who was a heavy backgame player. He made three points in my home board and then proceeded to crush me! I realized that I have no idea how to defend against this kind of strategy. Can anyone give me any pointers?

Maverick · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 15

From my experience, the only advice you’ll need if you are playing against a backgame player is that you bring a big wallet for all the money you’ll win! I think the backgame is overrated and the backgame strategy hardly works.

joliver · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 25

Actually, the backgame can be quite a good strategy. A good reference on the subject is Bill Robertie’s book on “Advanced Backgammon”. Aside from that, try implementing backgame strategy yourself and see how your opponent’s defend against it. The best way to learn how to defend against something is to try to do it yourself.

Walter Trice has also written some good articles on the backgammon backgame. They should be available online. Google Walter Trice and you should be able to find them.

PipCount · Joined: 14 Jun 2007 Posts: 16

If you want to defend against a backgamer, the best thing to do is to avoid hitting their blots. The more blots you send to the bar, the better equipped your opponent will be to build up points in your home board. If you are playing someone you know is a backgamer, you just need to avoid supplying them with the tools to carry out their strategy.