Backgammon – Three General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 08/15/2020 03:25 pm by Madisyn
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 chief strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!