Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
In very general terms, there are 3 chief game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
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