Backgammon – Three General Schemes
In very simple terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You want to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!