Backgammon – 3 General Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 11/06/2017 05:25 am by Madisyn
In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic strategies employed. You must be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!