Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief game plans used. You must be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious trouble because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!