Backgammon – Three General Schemes
In very simple terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 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 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious difficulty taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, 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 straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!