Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes
Wednesday, 7. October 2015
In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada