Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!