Archive for November 17th, 2019

Backgammon – 3 General Plans

Posted in Backgammon on 11/17/2019 02:25 am by Madisyn
[ English ]

In very simple terms, there are three fundamental game plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-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 fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!