Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!