Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 01/27/2023 10:25 am by Lillie
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief techniques used. You must be able to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, because you do not have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!