Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-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 possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits due to the fact that 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 opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have 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 up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!

