Backgammon – 3 Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 10/13/2024 01:25 am by Zaire
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic strategies used. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time difficulty because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!