Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 02/17/2023 06:25 am by Jillian
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main techniques used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!