Backgammon – Three Main Schemes

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Posted by Nadia | Posted in Backgammon | Posted on 17-10-2023

In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!

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