Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 03/22/2024 11:25 am by Jillian
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!