Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three main game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!