Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 10/04/2017 02:25 am by Zaire
In very general terms, there are 3 main tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious calamity taking into account that 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 home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!