Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!