Posted by Darien | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 26-10-2016
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can create 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 is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!