Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques
by Karla on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2022
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general techniques used. You want to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
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