Backgammon – Three General Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 09/07/2022 11:25 pm by Zaire
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three chief plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!