Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-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 quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!