Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You need to be able to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!