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Backgammon – Three Main Plans
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You want to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious dire straits because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
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