Backgammon – Three General Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 05/15/2024 01:25 am by Lillie
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three main strategies used. You need to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time dire straits since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!