Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!