Backgammon – Three General Plans
by Caden on Monday, May 22nd, 2017
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time calamity since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
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