Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three chief tactics used. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace 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 closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, because you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!