Backgammon – Three Main Plans
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies used. You need to be able to switch techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
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