Backgammon – Three Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 04/28/2021 01:25 pm by Madisyn
In very simple terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious calamity seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan 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 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!