Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 06/13/2019 01:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!