Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 03/21/2021 01:25 pm by Lillie
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 basic plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent 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 required to break up this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!