Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
Friday, 30. May 2025
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general tactics employed. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, because you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada