Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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