08.20
Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques used. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!