Backgammon – Three Basic Plans

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Posted by Darien | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 03-10-2015

[ English ]

In very general terms, there are three basic techniques used. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious calamity seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!

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