Backgammon – 3 General Strategies
In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental game plans used. You need to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious trouble since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there’s 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 pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!