Backgammon – Three Main Plans
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans employed. You need to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-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 now in serious calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!