Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 01/28/2023 04:25 am by Madisyn
In very simple terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!