Backgammon – Three Basic Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 08/10/2022 03:25 pm by Zaire
In very general terms, there are three general tactics employed. You must be able to switch tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!