Backgammon – Three Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 06/26/2023 09:25 pm by Madisyn
In very simple terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
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 opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!