Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. 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 involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious trouble taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!