Backgammon

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In very general terms, there are three chief techniques used. You must be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!