Backgammon – 3 General Schemes

In very general terms, there are three basic tactics used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!

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