Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general techniques used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!
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