Archive for February, 2017

Backgammon – Three Basic Techniques

by Erin on Wednesday, February 8th, 2017

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this situation!