Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes

[ English ]

In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three main game plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent 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 opposer is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, 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 a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!

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