Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious dire straits seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!