Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious trouble taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!