04.14
Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans
In astonishingly general terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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