Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!