Posted by Darien | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 12-03-2016
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!