Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes
In very general terms, there are 3 general plans used. You need to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!