Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You need to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!