Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
In astonishingly general terms, there are three main techniques used. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!