Backgammon – 3 Main Plans
Wednesday, 29. March 2017
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 main plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada