Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
Tuesday, 30. June 2020
In very general terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada