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Online Bingo March 29th 2006
Strategies for the Advanced Level March 29th 2006 Advanced Level refers to a point from where you can start winning. The basic winning strategy depends upon three factors >> Read the whole article
Strategy for Beginners March 27th 2006 As a beginner, you need to focus on the key objective of the game. In a nutshell, the objective is to bring all the checkers to your inner board and to finally start bearing them off. >> Read the whole article
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Strategies for the Advanced Level

Advanced Level refers to a point from where you can start winning. The basic winning strategy depends upon three factors

Running Game
Blocking Game and
Back Game.

You need to use various permutations and combinations of these three techniques for your success. Millard Hopper has revealed his championship secrets for moving, blocking and back games in his popular book "Win at Backgammon�.

The strategy includes blocking the opponent from hitting your checkers and blocking the escape route of the opponent. To block the opponent's escape route, you are to block the 24th row, one of the most strategically important rows of your home board. You must try to block your opponent's checkers on your home board only. Experienced players advise to block the rows in combinations like 6+1, 3+1, 4+2, 5+3, and 6+5.

In the earlier level of strategies we have seen how to block the opponent from one particular point. But the skill lies in deciding, when to hit and being hit. Experts advise only to hit when you feel it's advantageous. Never attempt unnecessary hitting. A generic solution is to hit the most advanced checker of the opponent's or the potential checker, which may be used to block you as per your reading of the game. The experience players prefer hitting a checker in the opponent's home board. Don't unnecessary panic of being hit. You may lure your opponent to hit your checkers while exposing his other checkers for attack.

At this stage let's establish how we can further restrain the moves of the opponent's checkers. Creating a Prime does this. If you can occupy six points in a row then it is called a prime. The advantage of prime is that your opponent cannot move out from behind a prime. So, if you can set a prime in your opponent's home board, it will restrain the opponent's movement to a great extent. Experts advise you to start a prime either from your 5th point or from your bar point. But the caution message for you is the attempt for formation of a prime may even lead to leave the blots, risking your checkers for being hit. So, always keep balance and keep watching the progress of the game.

The most important factor is, if you lag; don't be panic-stricken to leave shots. Instead, focus on placing checkers as per your convenience.

Now after the preliminary knowledge of double and redouble at this stage lets delve into the issue. First of all let's say clearly that this double and redouble does not have any limit. Only exclusive rights of the doubling cube swing between the two players as well as the value of the stake increases following the arithmetic rules. The double and redouble actually make the game more attractive by increasing its speed.

Now lets discuss one very relevant term over here, which is "Beavers�. In the normal course of the game, when a double is announced and the opponent accepts the double, then the first one looses the exclusive right of the doubling cube. Now, if the first one does not want to loose the possession of the doubling cube, he immediately announces the redouble. A beaver pushes the ball to the opponent's court for accepting or conceding a defeat of that game by refusal. But this rule is applied mostly in money play, not in matches or tournaments.

At this point you must be aware of two distinct stages, Gammon and Backgammon. If one has completed to bearing off all his 15 checkers, while the other has not been able to bear off even one of his 15 checkers, then the winner is rewarded gammon, which doubles the points. If the situation becomes like one has been able to accomplish bearing off completely, while the other has got his checker or checkers on the bar or in his outer board (essentially being the winner's home board), the winner is rewarded backgammon, which has got triple effect.

Now lets refer some books

501 Essential Backgammon Problems by Bill Robertie - If you are puzzled with different situations of the game, then consult this book for your rescue. The challenging positions, where you had lost your ways in the real life game, will find a better strategy in this book. This book has tried to cover the most of the crucial situations throughout the game. It will help you in enhancing your positional knowledge.

Advanced Backgammon (2 volumes) by Bill Robertie - The beginners is prohibited! This book targets the experts with deep analytical approach and the corresponding solution.

Winning Strategies of Robin Clay gives you some practiced methods and examples of how to overcome the crux situation and look forward to a victory.

The New York Times Book of Backgammon by James Oswald Jacoby and Mary Zita Jacoby - A splendid guide from the most renowned couple James and Mary, the authorities of backgammon, will guide all aspirant players of the backgammon for any level of player. Even the highly proficient players in the game of skill, chance and intrigue, will be benefited from this book. The critical analytical power and the personal talents have been mixed for teaching the various strategies and techniques for winning over the every odd situation.

Bill Robertie has published many books in backgammon like Backgammon for winners, Backgammon for serious players etc., all having reached the zenith of popularity.

Backgammon by Paul Magriel - This book is treated as The Bible in backgammon. You can be master of different tactical moves of the game and find out solution for your problems encountered in real life game. It covers almost all strategic and tactical points of the game in wider details.

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