Backgammon – Three Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 03/18/2023 03:25 pm by Jillian
In very general terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You want 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-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid 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, seeing that you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!