Backgammon – Three General Schemes
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
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