Backgammon – Three General Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 09/20/2022 03:25 pm by Madisyn
In very simple terms, there are 3 main plans used. You must be able to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious trouble considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, 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 can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!