Backgammon – Three Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 12/25/2023 06:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 general plans used. You want to be able to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble 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 involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better 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 crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!