In exceptionally general terms, there are three main game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious dire straits considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also 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 anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!
This entry was posted on August 7, 2020, 3:25 pm 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.