Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors 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 spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!