Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, taking into account 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 can maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!
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