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Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
November 8th, 2015 by Kaitlynn
[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental techniques employed. You must be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace 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 quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious trouble because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!


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