Backgammon – Three Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 07/10/2018 02:32 am by Madisyn
In very general terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are 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 anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!