Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental plans used. You must be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!