Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 10/01/2021 11:25 pm by Jillian
In very general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!