Backgammon – 3 Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 09/11/2022 03:25 pm by ZaireIn astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!