Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
In very simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The best places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable 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 can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!