10.27
Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You must be able to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed 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 position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!