Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main plans employed. You must be able to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!