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Backgammon – 3 General Techniques
November 6th, 2021 by Princess

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

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have 2 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 competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!


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