Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 07/24/2020 11:25 am by Lillie
In very simple terms, there are three basic tactics used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!