Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You need to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!

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