Backgammon – Three General Plans
In very simple terms, there are 3 main tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations 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 two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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