If you’ve just begun to explore online backgammon and are getting ready to join a few real money games then be sure to prepare yourself with a few simple strategies for winning at online backgammon. Though backgammon may seem like a game of chance because of the use of dice, in fact there are several strategic ways to vastly improve your chances of success at online backgammon. Pick up a few simple strategies here to get started.

There are three simple strategies for playing backgammon that will come in handy online. They are: running strategy, blocking strategy and attacking strategy.  The running strategy is the simplest and usually the first strategy a new backgammon player picks up on. The object is to simply move your pieces (or checkers) as quickly as possible across the board to your home. It’s a race to the finish line and the backgammon player uses little other strategy.

The blocking strategy is more complicated. By having two or more checkers on a point you block your opponent from landing on those points. If you set up a row of controlled points you can effectively barricade your opponent from moving and he or she may even be forced to skip a turn or two if there is nowhere to move. A blocked point in your opponent’s home board is called an anchor and can be very problematic.

The attacking strategy is offensive and is when the backgammon player tries to hot as many blots (single exposed checkers on a point) as possible. The risk is that this may also leave the player’s checkers venerable to hits if they don’t have at least two checkers on the point. Try these and other simple strategies when playing online backgammon and you’ll find the results rewarding.