Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 general game plans employed. You must be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!