Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
In exceptionally general terms, there are three general game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween 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 closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!