Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 01/14/2022 12:25 am by Madisyn
In very simple terms, there are three basic strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point 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 opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!