Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match 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 moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!