Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 01/21/2025 08:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic game plans employed. You must be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits due to the fact that 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 anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!