Posted by Nadia | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 12-12-2022
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious calamity seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!