Backgammon: Get the Upper Hand
One needs to execute strategy and tactic to be a backgammon winner. The basic principle is to make advantageous checker moves at the cast of dice. Here are a few tips on how to get the upper hand in this game of logic.
Block your opponent. With every move, anchor your checkers as long as you can. Your opponent is not allowed to land on your anchored points. You are, in effect, setting up a blocking strategy by keeping your enemy immobile while you advance your pieces.
Build a prime. That's an anchor covering six points in a row and the most excellent block in backgammon. Your adversary will have nowhere to go. And the best circumstance would be establishing a prime on your home board while your opponent is on the bar.
Be patient. In case you still have an anchor on your enemy's home board halfway through the game, just wait. Your opponent will eventually leave a blot and the best tactic is to hit it. By the time you do that, it's beneficial that you have a blockade on your home board or quadrant to delay your opponent's re-entry to the game. Use the time to advance the checker pieces down to your side of the board.
Keep your checkers even. Keep your checkers evenly distanced on the points and preferably anchored. Try not to link up a number of checkers on a single point. Remember, all your checkers should be on your home board before you're allowed to bear off. Maintaining an even distribution of your checkers secures more point space and more opportunity to keep your opponent still. It will be easier to protect checkers that are closer to each other and minimize blots on the board.
Hit a blot at the opportune moment. You should not hit enemy blots because you could. You should hit a blot only if it can gain you a lead. Oftentimes, you will leave open targets when you hit your opponent's blot. And that's bad tactic. You'll just find yourself back at the bar over and over again. Hit a blot when you have created a set of anchors or preferably a prime on your home board. It's also good to hit a blot you have entry space on your opponent's home board and hitting a blot would mean you'll be in the same situation as your opponent.
Anticipate your enemy's moves in backgammon. Get the upper hand by using these tips when the situation arises, or at the time when you're plotting your strategy. At the end of the day, it's the best move at the cast of the dice that makes a winner.