Backgammon – 3 General Plans
In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
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