Backgammon – Three Main Strategies
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 main techniques used. You need to be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!
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.
