Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 10/01/2025 05:25 am by Zaire
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!