Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift 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 rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!

