Backgammon Tips

1. For those who don't know - YOU CAN REDOUBLE. When your opponent doubles you to two, you can redouble to four anytime it's your turn to roll. In particular, consider a match to 3 where you are trailing 1-0. Your opponent doubles, and you take. You should ALWAYS turn the cube on your next roll. What do you have to lose? If you lose this game you lose the match, so why not be sure to win the match if you win the game?




2. When you are behind in a race it is usually wrong to abandon an anchor or a holding point. Waiting for that shot may be your only chance to win.




3. When in doubt, hit. Hitting takes precedence in most situations, especially on your opponent's side of the board when it makes a bigger difference in the race. Your opponent may dance.




4. When you are behind in the race and waiting for a shot, slot and build the points in your home board in order.




5. Always slot to extend primes, especially 6pt primes since you have less checkers to work with. The exception would be when you risk being put behind a prime yourself.




6. When you must leave a shot, put your checkers where they will do the most good if not hit.




7. Early in the game, try to avoid putting checkers on low points. It restricts your options later in the game. Sometimes it is right, but if you have a decent alternative, try not to put checkers on your 1- and 2-points too early.




8. If you are playing a 2-point match, or have reached a score where both players need 2 points to win (like 1-1 in a 3-point match, or 3-3 in a 5-point match) it is usually right to double at your first opportunity. If you are playing a significantly stronger player, you should double when you have any advantage, no matter how slight. Your opponent will surely double later if he obtains the advantage, but you may not realize later on when it's correct to double. Don't be afraid to turn it into what is essentially a one-point match.