Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In very simple terms, there are three chief game plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!
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