Backgammon – Three Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 10/06/2020 09:25 am by Zaire
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic techniques used. You want to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, because you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!