Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!