Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief techniques employed. You must be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!