Backgammon Lessons
Backgammon is a board game reminiscent of checkers and chess, although it probably predates the latter. Recreational but not too easy, backgammon became a staple in home games in no time and finally made its way to land-based and online casinos as a classy table game often associated with tuxedo-garbed gentlemen.
How to Play Backgammon
A game of backgammon primarily makes use of the backgammon board, 
which looks sort of like a chess board, and backgammon pieces, which resemble checker pieces. The backgammon board is made up of two sides, one black and the other white, each containing 12 points. Each side has an inner table and outer table located perpendicular to either side. There are a total of 30 backgammon pieces, 15 black and 15 white. These pieces are known as stones. In addition, backgammon requires two dice and a dice holder, such as a dice cup, from which to roll the dice.
Before a game of backgammon begins, the first step to playing is to set up the backgammon board. Players sit opposite each other, which determines if they are on the black or white side of the table. On either side, stones are similarly placed in this manner: two stones of the opponent's color are on the first point, five stones of own color are on the sixth point, three stones of own color are on the eighth point, and five stones of the opponent's color are on the twelfth point.
After setting up the backgammon board, players must determine who moves first by each throwing a single die. Whoever rolls the higher number gets to move first. If the numbers tie, both players must keep throwing the die until they break the tie. As soon as one player rolls a higher number, points on the board must be numbered 1 through 24, beginning with the point on the board's upper righthand corner farthest away from that player.
The game of backgammon begins once the player with the higher roll moves his first stone along the board as many times as the number on his rolled die. For example, one player hits a 2 on the roll of a single die while the other player hits a 5. The player who rolled the 5 gets to move first. Because his roll was a 5, he must move one stone a total of five steps from its starting point. This is the first move in the game, and the only one based on the number on a single die. From here on, the other player rolls two dice and moves his stones accordingly, and they both take turns doing so.
For the remainder of the game, stones are moved according to the roll of two dice. That is, players move their pieces from one point to the next as many times as the number shown on the dice. The numbers on the two dice may be taken as a sum to move a single stone, or taken separately to move two different stones. For example, a player hits 1 and 3 on two dice, which equals 4. He has the option to either move one stone four steps, or move a first stone one step and move a second stone three steps.
If you hit the same number on each of the two dice, known as a double, you may use this number to move four times. For example, you hit two 6's on a two-die roll. It means you can move four times, at six steps each move. Thus, the most number of moves you can make per turn is four. You have the option to decline a double, and make two moves only instead of four. But the favored practice is to use as many doubles as possible.
Players must move stones in a counterclockwise direction. If you look at the backgammon board while playing, you would notice all stones moving similarly: from a starting point, all the way around until the inner table, and then all the way off the board. Players take turns rolling two dice and moving stones according to the outcomes of the dice, until one of them manages to move his very last stone off the board, in which case he wins backgammon.
Backgammon Game Strategies
Open the way to advantage rolls. This is a fairly simple backgammon strategy to get you started. Early in the game, the board is still pretty open and it is tempting to just move your stones randomly and without a clear direction. Instead, use each turn to place your stones in a way that can carry over an advantage into the next turn. For example, since 6 is the highest number on a single die, you can keep your stones within six pips of each other. This makes it more possible to cover a stone easily once it is called for. There is no need to crowd specific points with six stones or more. Instead, you can spread your stones evenly across the board. This increases the probability that each outcome of your roll is one that allows you to move your stones around the way you intend them.
In contrast, you should block the way to your opponent's advantage rolls. For example, opposing stones that are on the bar require a specific number of steps to move off the bar. If you place your exposed stones the same number of steps from them, these opposing stones can get stuck on the bar for longer. Also, position your stones such that two opposing stones on separate locations on the board will require the same number of steps to move beneficially. One way to do it is by placing two exposed stones an equal number of steps away from two opposing stones. This method prevents the opponent from maximizing each turn.
Build your offense and defense. Your most relevant offense is to block opposing stones from leaving your side of the board to delay their ultimate goal of moving off the board. A general blockade would be one where your stones are positioned without gaps in front of opposing stones, which prevents them from moving. A major blockade would be one where six of your stones are lined up without gaps in a row, making it impossible for opposing stones to get out.
Your most relevant defense is to establish anchor points at your opponent's side, which can later serve as landing points when you are hit. These will also prevent opposing stones from reaching their home board. Early in the game, your best anchor points are those adjacent to the bar—20 and 21. As the game progresses and you possibly fall behind, your might need to add defensive points farther from the bar—22, 23, 24. An additional idea is to let your exposed stones get hit on purpose, which allows you to buy time and plant your anchor points.
Time your strike and counterstrike. The best time to leave your stones exposed is when you need them as stepping stones early on in order to establish anchors and blockades. The best time to get them covered is later in the game, to contain a weaker position, hits, and return hits. Logically, prioritize hitting opposing stones closest to their goal, an only when hitting them offers a beneficial result, such as opposing stones that will especially need to be covered to target key points. There is no need to hit opposing stones when other opposing stones are already on the bar, especially if you could use being spared from return hits.
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