Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 01/06/2019 06:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main tactics employed. You need to be able to switch tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential 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 forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!