Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 main tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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