Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies

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Posted by Darien | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 13-07-2018

[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general tactics used. You need to be able to switch game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!

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