Posted by Nadia | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 04-11-2019
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic tactics used. You need to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!