Backgammon

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In very general terms, there are 3 main techniques used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy 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 progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time calamity seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!