09.02
Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 basic tactics used. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls 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 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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