Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In very simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!