Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three general strategies employed. You want to be able to switch techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!