Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In very simple terms, there are 3 main plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!