Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 07/22/2024 01:25 pm by Zaire
In very general terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You must be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed 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 two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!