Backgammon – Three General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 10/02/2022 05:26 am by Madisyn
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three general plans employed. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors 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 checkers home, because you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!