How to Enjoy Backgammon More

Enjoying backgammon all depends on how well we know the rules and the basic strategies. Without this elementary knowledge enjoying fun in backgammon is impossible. So here are some ways to enjoy the game more.

First, we have to know all the rules in playing the game. The first is how to move checker pieces on the board. Checker pieces are moved according to dice rolls. So much of the game is dictated by dice rolls. The dice should be placed in a dice shaker or cup, shaken well, and released on the board. The dice pieces should not be thrown off the board and should always land flat on the board.

According to what numbers are shown by the dice, we move our checker pieces. For instance, if the dice roll says 3 and 4, we either move one piece 3 points and another piece 4 points, or we move one single piece 7 points, the total of 3 and 4. Another rule we must know is the main object of the game, which is to win the backgammon race. Many players get bored by merely placing checkers on points. Unless we get the main goal in the game enjoying backgammon won't be possible.

Why do we move checker pieces on the board? Because we want all of them to be transferred to our home board as soon as possible so we can start bearing them off one by one—and all these before the opponent does. This main goal makes the game a fast paced one because we realize that moving checkers is for a purpose—and the purpose paves the way to wining.

Knowing how to move the checkers is not enough. We have to know why we move them. When we know these things, it's time to know how to move them faster. Here, basic strategies come into the picture. Because we want to be the first to bear off our checkers, we realize the need for building strategies. The basic ones are establishing primes and anchors. Primes are those we setup on our home board and anchors are those we setup on the enemy board.

As we begin to know the use of basic strategies the game becomes exciting. Backgammon is no longer just like Chinese checkers with limited tactics and a shallow goal. It now becomes leadership training—leading our men to hit, conquer points, and win a race.

Enjoying backgammon means we learn what the game is really about. We move pieces for a purpose.