Backgammon Tips

Like in every game, you can always improve your backgammon play by learning from the more experienced ones. Yet, even if you are a very skilled and practiced player, there might be still something more you could learn. Here are some important tips that can help you to improve your backgammon skills:

Here is a good advice to begin with

Keep your calm during dramatic swings of luck in a game. Do not neglect to consider each new position carefully. Try not to be influenced by what your position used to be.

- What to do when you're behind in the race?
- Backgammon primes and anchors.
- Backgammon hitting.
- Backgammon doubling - when to double?

A. When you are behind in the race:

Being significantly behind in the race does not necessarily mean you will lose the game! Such a situation could in fact improve your timing to be hit again, and give you a better back game or avoid crunching your board.

When you are behind in a race it is generally better to stick to an anchor or a holding point. Wait for that shot, since it may be your opportunity to win.

When you are behind in the race and you are waiting for a shot, it is best to slot and build the points in your home board systematically.

However, you should take an advantage of your position it you are ahead in the race. Break contact if you are ahead. This may also be a good opportunity to double.

B. Making anchors and building primes:

Making anchors is usually a good idea, but if your opponent makes an advanced anchor, it is even more important to make one yourself. Do not stay in a disadvantaged position if you can help it!

Already at the start of the game, you should take care to be in an equal position to that of your opponent. Do your best to control your fifth and your fourth points, on both sides of the board.

It is usually good to slot to extend primes, specially six point primes. This will leave you less checkers to move. You should avoid this strategy only when you risk being put behind a prime yourself.

In a situation when both you and your opponent have primes, your moves should not allow you to play high numbers on your next roll.

When several of your opponent's checkers are already back, it is healthier to strengthen a prime than to send more checkers back, since this may give your opponent a better back game or improve his/her timing.

Struggle to keep an even number of checkers on your highest points when bearing off against an anchor. This will help you to avoid leaving shots if you roll high doubles.

C. Hitting:

If you are unsure of your game, lock up permanent assets. Making a key point is often better than a loose hit.

However, if you have a choice between hitting a checker on your opponent's side of the board or to make a point on your own side, it is usually better to hit.

Hitting is usually the best move to make. If you are unsure what move to make, you should hit, chiefly on your opponent's side of the board when it makes a more significant gap in the race.

D. When to double:

Whether or not to use the doubling cube is an important strategic decision. In fact, for every two gammons you suppose you will lose, you have to win one more game to make it up. You should take this into account, of course.

If you think about making a double, you should know you will be able to win at least a quarter of the games in the match, if there is little risk of a gammon, to break even. This fluctuates with match score, of course. When you are behind it is better to be a little more aggressive, while when you are ahead you can be a little more restrained.

Generally speaking, when you have fewer checkers left and fewer pips in a bear off, doubling is a good idea.

Enjoy your games, and good luck!

More doubling tips
And some more backgammon tips