Backgammon

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main plans used. You must be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two 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, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!