Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 07/11/2024 07:25 am by Zaire
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three basic tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!