In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You must be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!
This entry was posted on February 4, 2020, 8:25 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.