Posted by Darien | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 17-12-2017
In very simple terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You need to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!