Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time calamity because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, because you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!