Backgammon – Three General Plans
In exceptionally general terms, there are three main strategies employed. You need to be able to switch tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
