Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 01/09/2016 01:21 am by Jillian
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious trouble seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!