Backgammon Tactics

Playing backgammon involves knowing when to use backgammon tactics. This game of
moves and strategies can be both satisfying and frustrating as you go to battle with 15
armies and you are trying to win the game.

There are some tactics in backgammon that can be used to your advantage such as not
making you own 1-,2-, and 3 points too early. Checkers that are on these points have
almost left the battle and would come in a lot handier in the middle of the game. You
have to try and make a series of adjacent points, which is harder to get past than the same
amount of points with gaps. Try to get a full prime of 6 points in a row. That way your
opponent can't pass you until you break it down. You will find that at times both you and
your opponent will form primes and the battle is won by the one that maintains it the
longest. However, if you have to break up a prime start, do it from the farthest point from
home.

Another good tactic is slotting, but you have to be very careful. Slotting is moving a
single checker from a point you hope to make. There is a bit of risk involved with this. It
is not acceptable to use this tactic when it exposes your checker to a direct hit. When you
split your back checker early in the game, it is not as risky, and is a good idea to do it
early, especially when it allows you to slot your opponents 5-point or 4-point and in this
case is well worth the risk. If it happens that you are hit, you have not lost much and your
opponent will find it too risky to hit you unless he/she can do it without leaving a blot.