Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques
In exceptionally general terms, there are three general game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, 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 right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
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