Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 09/17/2015 03:21 pm by Jillian
In very simple terms, there are 3 main game plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!