Backgammon

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general game plans used. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!