05.11
Backgammon – 3 General Plans
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!