Backgammon

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In very simple terms, there are three basic plans employed. You want to be able to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!