Archive for January 22nd, 2022

Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes

Posted in Backgammon on 01/22/2022 10:25 pm by Lillie

In very general terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You need to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are 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 anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger 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 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious trouble due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!