Backgammon – Three Main Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 05/06/2020 03:25 am by Zaire
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!