Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 main tactics employed. You want to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!