Backgammon – Three General Schemes
In very simple terms, there are three general tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!
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