Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!