Backgammon

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!