09.21
Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic tactics used. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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