Backgammon – Three General Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 11/22/2021 06:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!