Backgammon – Three Main Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 01/27/2019 10:25 am by Zaire
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!