In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic strategies used. You must be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
This entry was posted on October 13, 2015, 10:21 am and is filed under Backgammon. You can follow any responses to this entry through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.