Backgammon – Three Main Plans
In very general terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You must be able to switch techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!