Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
In very simple terms, there are three fundamental plans used. You must be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
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