Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You must be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. 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 is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!