Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques
In very general terms, there are three general game plans employed. You must be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious trouble due to the fact that 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 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!