Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block 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 game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible 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 toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!