Backgammon – 3 General Strategies
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main strategies used. You want to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!