Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You must be able to switch strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious calamity considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!