Backgammon – 3 General Plans

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Posted by Darien | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 15-09-2015

[ English ]

In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity since 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 higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!

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