Backgammon – 3 Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 09/01/2019 09:25 pm by Jillian
In exceptionally general terms, there are three main strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!