Backgammon – Three General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 02/07/2021 12:25 pm by Lillie
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief techniques used. You need to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!