| A famous board game: Backgammon
Backgammon rules, playing tips, techniques, strategies... advice!To start the game each player must throw one dice, the bigger number will start to play with the total number of dices. For example if you roll a "5" and your opponent "4", you will start, and play "5+4"
In Backgammon, playing all numbers is obligatory, you can not say you don't like to play this number, or you will play it later, and as a result of the rule, experienced players may strategically leave weak checker (blot: single checker in a row with the possibility to be hit by the opponent) in a row and force you to hit it. We'll explain a proper case later.
Now we will study some combination of numbers and standard moves. Previously we have seen the important rows (dark blue color) on the escape route of your rival's first two checkers. These checkers, which are placed in your home area (at "r24") at the beginning of the game, must be blocked as soon as possible.
There are combinations that you have to play in only one way at the beginning, naturally if your way is clear and rows are empty and available. Like "6+1"; "3+1"; "4+2"; "5+3"; "6+5". Those are the most lovely combinations of two dices as first moves of the game, off course doubles like "1+1"; "2+2"… are also highly helpful to build a quick and strong blockage but be careful with doubles.
Play "6+1": One checker goes to "row18" from "row12", playing 6 pips or steps; the other checker goes to "row18" from "row17", playing 1 step; which make a nice block on the "row18" to close your opponents "6 gate" which is a great obstacle on his escaping way from your home area with a "6+5" or a "double6".
Now let's play the "3+1" on the board:
For "3" one checker goes to "row20" from "row17";
For "1" one checker goes to "row20" from "row19"; blocking "row20" and annulling your rival's chance to play 4s. Now you have respectively blocked 3 rows which terminate your rival's ability of playing "4", "5" and "6". I am hearing you to say you have one weak checker in the "row17". Yes but that's life, you can't get everything together! Your rival can hit you with only 3 combinations: "1+6"; "2+5"; "3+4", which means 3 chances in 36 possibilities (refer to probabilities in backgammon). Besides I will sacrifice one checker to close these 3 rows, without regret!
(We didn't pay attention what your rival has played between your 2 hands. Suppose that he played "5+3" and made a block on "row3")
You can make the same above blocks with a "double1" (1+1). You will play 4 times "1", 2 checkers go to "row18" from "row17" and 2 checkers to "row20" from "row19".
Play "4+2": one checker goes to "row21" from "row17"; one checker goes to "row21" from "row19" to form a block on "row21".
Play "5+3": one checker goes to "row22" from "row17"; one checker goes to "row22" from "row19" to form a block on "row22".
How to play "double6": (off course if rows are clear) 2 checkers go to "row7" from "row1"; 2 checkers go to "row18" from "row12", and "row7"+"row18" are nicely blocked, precious 6 gates of your opponent.
How to play "double5": in a progressed game you may find several possibilities but in the beginning
I will recommend a safe way: 2 checkers go to "row22" from "row12".
How to play "double4"; "double3"; "double2"? You have several
choices, and you have to find the best move, but keep in mind that your goal is to block your rival's route and keep him paralyzed!
For a "double4" on the beginning my choice is bringing 2 checkers from "row12" to "row20" and make a block. You may prefer to move 2 checkers from "row1" to "row5" and 2 checkers from "row12" to "row16" and nobody will blame you.
For a "double3" (again on the beginning) my preference is to bring 2 checkers from "row17" to "row20" to form a block and 2 checkers from "row12" to "row15" to have ready and able soldiers to form blocks on the next hands. You may move 2 checkers from "row12" to "row18" and block the "row18" or 2 checkers from "row1" to "row7" to escape from your rival home area and block the "row7" but this is not a move I will recommend on the first hands, you will loose your chance to form blocks around your home area and the chance to disturb your rival, he will feel himself free in his home area. See the below board: You can compare 2 different ways of playing "double3" on above 2 boards. There is also a third way: two checkers on "row20" and two on "row22".
And for a "double2": I will move 2 checkers from "row19" to "row21" and 2 checkers from "row12" to "row14" for preparations. You may play the first 2 checkers from "row19" to "row21" but the second 2 checkers from "row1" to "row3" to create an easier and shorter escape route.
In the next page (Backgammon Part3) you will play difficult combinations!
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