Backgammon – 3 General Strategies
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 basic plans used. You must be able to switch tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious calamity because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The best areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!