Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!