Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!