Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!