Backgammon – Three General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 09/24/2021 07:25 am by Zaire
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental tactics employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least 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 build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!