Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
In very simple terms, there are 3 general game plans used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!