Backgammon – Three Basic Techniques
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three fundamental tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!
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