• Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques

    In astonishingly general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

    The Blockade

    This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

    The Blitz

    This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

    The Backgame

    This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!

     November 15th, 2015  Makenzie   No comments

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