Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 01/29/2020 04:25 am by Jillian
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle 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 opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!