Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three basic plans employed. You want to be able to switch tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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