Backgammon

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

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 opponent tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!