Backgammon – Three General Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 05/10/2024 03:25 am by Zaire
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general game plans used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!