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Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 basic game plans employed. You need to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!