Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 03/10/2020 01:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic strategies used. You need to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent 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 dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!