Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!
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