Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
In very simple terms, there are three basic techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!