Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques
In very general terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You want to be able to switch game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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