Backgammon – Three Basic Techniques
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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