Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 01/03/2016 09:21 pm by Zaire
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main strategies employed. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity because 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 higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!