10 HELPFUL TIPS FOR PLAYING BACKGAMMON I

Backgammon is a game of skill, luck and intuition. The scenario varies with every game, where any pre-defined strategy may fail for obvious reasons. Here we can echo Oscar Wilde as 'Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes'. However we want to build a basic strategy guideline, which should help you in tackling crux situations.
You should have adequate knowledge of the terms like prime, holding, racing. Identify the key points and define your strategy as per the progression of the game. Keep your eyes wide open and try to judge how the opponent is playing or where he places his checkers. Try to guess the opponent?s intention and plan. Your placing of checkers must be at your advantage but simultaneously to upset the opponent?s plan, at the least, it should create hindrances in the opponent?s planned moves.
1. Keep your options open. Whenever you are placing a checker on a particular point, think of the movement of the checker at your next roll. It?s always advisable to keep at least 2 alternatives open for every subsequent move.
2. Always try to spread checkers in pairs. It helps you from being hit. (There are times when being hit may work in your favor). If you are trailing significantly and your checkers are still far away from being hit, place them checkers at the bar, which will result in quicker movement. This is especially very helpful in case of a ?back game?.
3. You must know when to leave a shot. Let?s assume that the opponent?s checker is placed on the bar and you are to leave a blot or a prime (anchoring) then it?s wise to leave a shot.
4. Try to hit an opponent?s checker in the ?away board?. Experts say that this is even more important than making a blot or blockade in the form of prime.
5. Don?t try to occupy the ace-point in the beginning. Let the checkers move out for hitting or anchoring. Try to focus at the ace-point in the final stages of the game.