Backgammon – Three General Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 01/26/2021 08:25 am by Lillie
In astonishingly general terms, there are three chief tactics used. You must be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!