Backgammon All About Backgammon

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent's lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it's better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!