04.14
Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 basic techniques used. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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