Backgammon – 3 General Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 03/25/2020 12:25 pm by Madisyn
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three general strategies used. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!