Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!