Backgammon

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!