Winning Backgammon Strategy for Beginners
When we see a game of backgammon for the first time, one of the first impressions we get is that backgammon is a racing game. That is not really far from the truth about the game.
Other than being a race, backgammon involves offensive and defensive strategy like a good old game of checkers. Let's go over some strategy that you can start with as a beginner. You will also notice that the strategy we'll present is the very first piece of strategy a beginner will always learn.
The first bit of backgammon strategy you can apply as a beginner is to build points. Remember that in backgammon, a lone checker on a point is an open target for your opponent. When you place at least two checkers on a point you make or build that point.
This isn't only a good way to protect your checkers but is also a great way to block your opponent's moves. It also makes the enemy checkers move along slower by leaving them with less landing areas.
Consider making points on your five-point and your opponent's five-point as well. By taking control of these two points, any enemy checker trying to escape your home board or enemy checkers trying to reach their home board are within striking range.
That leads us to the second part of our beginner backgammon strategy -- to hit or be hit. Almost every beginner is afraid to hit a blot (i.e. an enemy single checker on the backgammon board). That's one fear in backgammon you may have to conquer.
When you hit you are working two great purposes in our strategy. First is that you send your opponent's checker back to start. Putting your opponent really behind in the backgammon race.
The next purpose in our backgammon strategy that you accomplish when you hit is that you limit your opponent's options. Giving you more time to gain a lot of ground in the game. When your opponent has a checker on the bar (i.e. "back to start") his only option is to enter the checkers from the bar to the backgammon board.
The last bit of beginner backgammon strategy is to escape those two checkers at your 24-point (i.e. back checkers). When these lag behind they become targets of a blockade. You can escape one of them by using all the moves in a six-five roll landing a checker safely on the 13-point. You also have the option to take control of your opponent's five-point and escape later.
As a beginner you can work with this backgammon strategy for now and add to it as you gain experience. Backgammon is more than just a race; it involves a balanced offensive and defensive strategy to win.