Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 04/02/2018 08:25 pm by Madisyn
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!