Backgammon – 3 General Plans
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 basic tactics used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!