Backgammon – Three General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 10/25/2023 07:25 am by Madisyn
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time trouble since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!