Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies used. You want to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!