Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 05/25/2024 11:25 pm by Zaire
In very general terms, there are 3 chief techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!