Backgammon Strategy – Start having an edge on the game
Contents
As one of the oldest games ever invented in human history, Backgammon has not lost its admiration throughout the generations and is still played in the XXI century, and the number of online casino backgammon strategies hasn’t stopped growing either.
The goal of the game is to move a set of checkers to the bottom right slot of the board (also called to bear off one’s checkers). This might leave the impression that a casino backgammon strategy is not needed since all you have to do is moving your checkers, without holding any information from your opponent. But the truth is Backgammon is more about strategy and skills than just mere luck.
Played with only two players, each one of them will get 15 checkers (30 in total), and the main goal is to get all your checkers off the board before the other player does according to the dice.
22BET
Minimum deposit
$/€1
Reputation
10/10
Bonus
100%
Games
10/10
Year founded
2018
Live Chat
Yes
CookieCasino
Minimum deposit
$10
Reputation
10/10
Bonus
100%
Games
9/10
Year founded
2020
Live Chat
Woo Casino
Minimum deposit
€20
Reputation
9/10
Bonus
100%
Games
10/10
Year founded
2020
Live Chat
Yes
BetChan
Minimum deposit
€/$20
Reputation
9/10
Bonus
100%
Games
8/10
Year founded
2015
Live Chat
Yes
Cadabrus
Minimum deposit
$/€20
Reputation
9/10
Bonus
100%
Games
10/10
Year founded
2020
Live Chat
Yes
Spinia
Minimum deposit
€10
Reputation
10/10
Bonus
100%
Games
9/10
Year founded
2018
Live Chat
Yes
Backgammon strategy for beginners
Newbies are encouraged to learn backgammon strategy to start having an edge on their games.
Starting with the basic information, the Backgammon board has 24 points or triangles, separated into 4 quadrants, each one with 6 points. You can also see it as 12 points/triangles for each player.
Each player will have a home board and an outer board divided as follows:
If we divide the board into 24 points, then points 1 to 6 will be the home board for Player A, and points 7 to 12 will be his/her outer board.
The same rule applies for the opponent (e.g. Player B) and the remaining points, i.e. points 19 to 24 will be his/her home board, and points 13 to 18 will be his/her outer board.
The player starting the game (e.g. Player A) must place his/her checkers on the board (all 15 of them) in the following positions:5 checkers on point #6,3 checkers on point #8,5 checkers on point #13, and finally2 checkers on point #24.
The opponent must place the checkers in the opposite positions, i.e.:5 checkers on point #19,3 checkers on point #17,5 checkers on point #12, and finally2 checkers on point #1.
Advanced online backgammon strategies
Unlike many casino games, Backgammon doesn’t rely on lady luck for the outcome, but it is rather a very skillful game, and with an advanced backgammon strategy players will be able to make it to the end and win the money pot.
The only moment of ‘chance’ left in the game is when players roll the dice and wait for the outcome. There isn’t any online backgammon betting strategy that can help you with this since you (nor any player) will have any control over the dice. The rest of the game will heavily rely on the players’ skill to predict the opponent’s movements and thinking of the fastest way to move your checkers on the board.
A handful of online casinos offer an online version of Backgammon to their players, displaying the entire board as in the real-life game. Playing online backgammon can give you an edge similar to real-life backgammon, since the same rules apply, and also the chances of winning, therefore almost all backgammon winning strategies used on brick-and-mortar casinos can also be used for the online platform.
Casino backgammon winning strategy tips
Doubling the stakes is a part of any game, but in Backgammon it takes a whole different dimension. Doubling your bet is actually one of the most widely used backgammon playing strategies amongst intermediate to advanced players in this game.
Doubling the stakes may not be the best backgammon strategy for beginners, since you may not be too familiar with the rules. But once you’re more experienced with the game, then this can become your most powerful weapon.
Players can either use regular dice (with numbers from 1 to 6), but they can also choose to play with a doubling cube, i.e. a cube whose numbers are 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64. This takes backgammon to a whole new level.
Players must place the doubling cube on the bar, displaying the #64. The player, in turn, may either choose to play with the current stake or to double them.
This is when having a strategy for backgammon will help you get the best out of it. Players can take the challenge or simply drop out of the game.
If the cube drops a doubled stake, then the opponent loses the game with a value equal to the doubled bet. The game can also be redoubled up to an unlimited number of times (up to 128 or even 256 times), though most players may stay up to 4 times the original bet. This is one of the most advanced backgammon strategies since it involves larger amounts of money.
Raising the stake is perhaps the best backgammon strategy. It is a powerful weapon you can use to intimidate your opponent. Since players can’t keep any secrets on this game (i.e. there are no secret aces or anything that you may keep to yourself, but instead everything is shown on the board), raising the stakes brings intimidation and may prevent your opponent from continuing on the game.
Players who believe they have a solid edge on the game should double their bet. Your opponent can either choose to take the double bet or to refuse it and lose one point from your total score.
Online backgammon betting strategy
Combining luck and skill, Backgammon’s online or real-life versions both need strategy and practice. To win in Backgammon you must run faster and harder than your opponent. In the online world, and as a part of the basic online backgammon strategy tips, the computer won’t be intimidated by your bet; instead strategic and unanticipated moves may be your best weapon.
As with all strategies for backgammon online, be careful of leaving checkers alone at one point. A lone checker is called a ‘blot’ and can be hit by your opponent. If that happens, that checker will have to start all over again, and you won’t be able to make any other moves until that checker has reentered the board.
Keep in mind that all your checkers must be on your home board so you can start taking them out.
Remember that the basic backgammon strategy is to move all checkers from point #24 to point #1 (and counter-wise for the opponent) by throwing the dices on the board and moving your checkers according to the outcome. Doubling the stakes may not produce such a good outcome when you’re playing against a computer since it won’t fear a higher bet.
FAQ on Backgammon strategy
Comments (0 comment(s))