• Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies

    In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

    The Blockade

    This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-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 quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

    The Backgame

    This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have other extra 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 opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!

     September 3rd, 2015  Makenzie   No comments

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