Backgammon

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!