Backgammon – Three General Techniques
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general tactics used. You want to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. 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 required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!
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