Backgammon tip of the day
Be aggressive. Following the styles of players like Bill Robertie and Nack Ballard, I started playing Backgammon both online and offline in a more aggressive manner. Turns out that not only have I improved my game considerably, but the game itself has turned more interesting and fun. Some may say I have a competitive personality, but the truth is that by playing more aggressively I force myself to pay more attention to the game and what I need to do in order to win, resulting in more victories, which, in return, has increased my confidence. Due to this, I am sharing my experience with you as my Backgammon tip of the day.
What I mean by “be aggressive” is that, just as in real life, you must set yourself a goal within the game and pursuit it not only with confidence, but also assertively. The goal in Backgammon is clear to all: bear off all of your checkers before your opponent does. So having that clear objective in mind there is no reason for you just to be passive and wait for things to happen; make them happen! A great way to do this is by playing in a way that represents a threat to your opponent because it is so focused and, in a way offensive. There is nothing to be shy about; you are playing to win, not to be defeated. So build some blocks and primes, hit as many of your opponent’s checkers as you can, use the doubling cube. In other words: retard your opponent’s advancement and be in his/her face.
Once you start seeing the benefits of my humble Backgammon tip of the day, you will realize introducing some emotional elements of stress in the game will pay off greatly.
