Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In very simple terms, there are 3 general game plans employed. You must be able to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 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 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces 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 an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!