Backgammon

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In very simple terms, there are three fundamental plans used. You must be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween 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 fast as as you can while keeping your challenger 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 toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, because you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!