Backgammon – Three General Plans

In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!

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