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Backgammon – Three General Strategies
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general game plans used. You must be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!