Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between 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 possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer 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 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!