Backgammon Tricks: Good Habits for a Better Game
There are no secret moves in backgammon. The "tricks" that strong players use are habits: a few quick checks before each move that keep them from making the same mistakes again and again. Here are the habits worth building first. For general strategy, our backgammon tips and basic strategy pages go further.
Use a Routine Before Every Move
Most errors come from moving too fast. Before you touch a checker, ask yourself three questions:
- What does my opponent threaten? Look at his last move and what he is building.
- What are my candidate moves? Find at least two or three legal plays, not just the first one you see.
- What can go wrong? For each candidate, look at the blots you leave and the rolls that hit them.
It takes seconds once it becomes a habit, and it prevents the worst blunders.
Count the Shots
When you must leave a blot, leave it where it is hardest to hit. The numbers are worth memorizing:
| Distance | Rolls that hit (of 36) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 11 |
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 14 |
| 4 | 15 |
| 5 | 15 |
| 6 | 17 |
| 8 | 6 |
| 11 | 2 |
Two lessons stand out. A blot six pips away is the easiest to hit, and a blot seven or more pips away is much safer, because it can only be hit by a combination of both dice. The full table is on the backgammon probability page.
Make Points, Not Blots
Two or more checkers on a point are safe and block your opponent. Single checkers are targets. When you have a choice, prefer moves that make a new point or keep your checkers together. This does not mean you should never leave a blot: sometimes a blot placed as a builder for a key point is worth the risk. The skill is in knowing which risks pay off.
Know Which Points Matter
Not all points are equal. Your 5 point is usually the most valuable point in the opening, because it blocks your opponent and helps build your home board. Your 4 point and your bar point (the 7 point) are also strong. The bar point is valuable for blocking your opponent's back checkers, but it sits in your outer board, so it does nothing for your home board on its own. Given a choice early in the game, make the 5 point first.
Hit When It Helps
Hitting gains you pips and costs your opponent a tempo, but it is not always right. A hit is strongest when the return shots are few, when it lands in your home board, or when it stops your opponent from making an important point. If hitting leaves you with several loose blots facing many return shots, a quieter move may be better.
Watch the Race
Check the pip count regularly. If you are well ahead, aim to get your checkers past your opponent's and race home. If you are well behind, keep contact and look for chances to hit. Many beginners play the same way whether they lead or trail; adjusting to the race is one of the simplest ways to improve.
Watch Your Opponent, and the Rules
Pay attention to how your opponent plays. Some players are cautious and rarely leave blots; others attack at every chance. Adjust to them. And always check that every move on the board, his and yours, matches the dice that were rolled. Honest mistakes happen, and catching them is part of good play.