Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
by Caden on Saturday, March 17th, 2018
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 main tactics employed. You must be able to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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