Backgammon – Three Basic Plans
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You want to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!