Offensive Weapon: The 6-Point Prime
A prime is an effective tool that any player can use when the opportunity arises. The 6-point prime can be considered the ultimate prime, because once it's set up opposing checkers aren't going anywhere until the prime is broken up. Let's see how this strategy works.
In backgammon when we have a series of consecutive blocking points built up next to each other we have a prime set up. A prime to be effective should be about 3 to 5 points long. Though the 3 point prime is kind of easy to handle, it still serves its purposes. The best prime a player can set up would be a 6-point prime. When that is built winning is already out of the question.
A 6-point prime faces only one threat. Since the ideal strategy for the 6-point prime is to keep the enemy trapped behind the prime its sole opposition is amongst the elements of the prime - the movement of the checkers. If a player has a 6-point prime set up care should be taken when moving the checkers along.
Movement then becomes the key to a perfect win and also the means for a formidable attack using a 6-point prime. More likely than not when players have built a 6-point prime they would still have extra checkers that they can spare. It is best to move these extra checkers first before moving the checkers that are actually on the 6-point prime. This would facilitate maintaining the length of the 6-point prime.
It is recommended that the extra checkers be positioned right next to the 6-point prime. Either they add another point or they're close enough to get on to the points where the prime is built. This would be pretty easy since most of the time the opponent won't be able to make a move or the opponent's next moves won't pose as a real threat to the extra checkers.
But if the opponent does manage to make a hit, don't be too concerned as such a strategy would soon break down due to the fact that the opponent has pieces stuck (and he will then forfeit moves facilitating an escape).
Moving the 6-point prime is like moving a phalanx. It stays strong when all the checkers move as a single unit. The general idea is to move the checkers at the rear first. Positioning these towards the front of the 6-point prime is the big idea. This would maintain the 6-point prime's length and moves the whole body forward.
Remember that in order not to break the 6-point prime a player must move the extra checkers if you can't move the 6-point prime forward in a given turn. Always move the 6-point prime as a single unit towards the home board always starting with the checkers at the rear. With this method of movement the 6-point prime becomes a formidable weapon.