Backgammon – 3 Main Plans
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 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 challenger is then in big-time dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!