Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In astonishingly general terms, there are three chief game plans used. You want to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time dire straits since 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 checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!