Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 basic game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!