Backgammon – Three General Schemes
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic game plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!