Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 basic game plans used. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!