Backgammon – Three Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 11/23/2019 12:25 pm by Lillie
In exceptionally general terms, there are three chief game plans employed. You must be able to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!