Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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