Backgammon

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure 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 continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!