Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 06/03/2023 11:25 pm by Lillie
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic plans employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious calamity since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!