Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 02/20/2018 03:28 am by Madisyn
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You need to be able to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!