Backgammon – Three General Schemes
In very general terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!