Backgammon

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are three chief tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!