Backgammon – 3 General Schemes

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!