Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 08/13/2020 11:25 am by ZaireIn extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general tactics used. You must be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent 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 better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!