Backgammon is a simple game to learn, but much more difficult to master. There are various backgammon tips and strategies that players can use to increase their level of skill. Knowledge of these backgammon strategies is often learned through experience, but for those who bother to do a little reading on the subject, one can become a master backgammon player in very little time.

This article will give novice and intermediate players the top 10 Backgammon Tips and Strategies to improve their game. Practice these tips and pay close attention to scenarios where such backgammon strategies can be used. After a awhile, you will become more familiar with strategy recognition, and over time, it will become second nature.

Top 10 Backgammon Tips & Strategies

1 Practice playing backgammon on a regular basis to become completely familiar with all opening moves. You should be able to observe the board and know exactly what checkers can move where according to the roll of dice.

2 Protect your checkers by closing points whenever possible. The more blots you have strewn about the board, the more likely you are to be hit and fall behind in the game. Keep blots to an absolute minimum.

3 Hit blots whenever possible, especially early on in the game. Hitting an opponent’s blot cripples his game plan, forcing him to focus on re-entering the blot rather than setting up a point strategy. The only time to avoid hitting blots is when it works to your advantage. For instance, if you are setting up a block (see #4), have an opportunity to get all of your checkers past your opponent’s checkers, or to move/bear off vulnerable checkers before an opponent re-enters.

4 Set up your own point strategy, focusing on your #4 and #5 points, as well as your opponent’s #4 and $5 points. These are key points that have a lot of advantages to hold.

5 Try to block out your opponent by claiming 6 points in a row, especially your own 6 home board points. When you have two or more checkers on 6 points in a row, your opponent cannot pass. If you have all 6 home points, the opponent cannot re-enter any hit checkers from the bar.

6 When you are clearly leading, focus on breaking away from your opponent (getting all checkers safely past your opponent’s checkers) and bearing off.

7 When you are falling behind, keep at least one point closed in your opponent’s home board so that you have opportunities to slow him down and hit blots. Also try to close as many points as possible in your own home board, preventing re-entry for your opponent.

8 Always be aware of your opponent’s potential backgammon strategy. Just as you are using a strategy against your opponent, you can be sure he is using one against you as well. By predicting his strategy, you can use it against him in the match. Depending on the opponent’s focal points, you may even have to adjust your own strategy in order to effectively pull this off.

For example, if your opponent is focusing on moving his own chips, ignoring opportunities to hit your blots, you can probably leave yourself more exposed in order to hit his blots, and/or progress your own checkers.

9 Bearing off checkers should be your top priority. Always bear off a checker when possible, rather than advancing a different checker, unless there is a great benefit to moving the checker instead.

10 When you are more than 25% ahead of your opponent, propose a doubling of the stakes. A smart opponent will concede the game. If you are offered a double, always take the double stakes if you are 25% or less behind.