Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!