Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 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 opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!