Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques
Monday, 25. January 2016
In exceptionally general terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You must be able to switch game plans instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious calamity taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada