Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!