Backgammon

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!