Backgammon – Three Main Plans
In very simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!