Backgammon
Strategies
(Taken from this video)
- Priming: Trying to build up a blockade of 6 points to trap the opponent behind.
- Running Game: Trying to get the checkers around the board as quickly as possible, without worrying about hitting any of your opponents pieces.
- Blitz: Try to hit as many blots as possible. Can be combined with priming to make it hard for the opponent to get out of your home board.
- Anchoring: Setting up a spot on the opponents home board where you can enter if you’re on the bar. Also useful because if white starts bearing off, you can hit any blots and make it so they have to restart.
- Back Game: Setting up a few checkers in the opponents home board to make it harder for them to get their checkers in while also allowing you a place to enter if you get hit.
Flashcards
2022-04-15
Moving right-to-left, what is the order of the number of pieces at each spot?
Moving right-to-left, what is the order of the number of pieces at each spot?
Starting from the bottom right of a backgammon board, what is the order of the number of pieces at each spot moving right-to-left?
Following the number of pieces right-to-left being $2, 5, 3, 5$ along the bottom of a backgammon board, how do the colours alternate?
On what points are $2, 5, 3, 5$ pieces moving right-to-left along the bottom of a backgammon board?
Once you’ve set up the bottom of a backgammon board, how can you set up the top?
It is the same but mirrored by opposite colours.
What three sequence of numbers can you remember to set up the bottom half of a backgammon board?
2022-04-18
What is a blot in backgammon?
An unprotected piece.
What is the priming strategy in backgammon?
Building up a blockade on 6 points to trap an opponent.
What is the running game strategy in backgammon?
Trying to get checkers around the board as quickly as possible, without worrying about hitting any pieces.
What is the blitz strategy in backgammon?
Trying to hit as many blots as possible.
Why is good to combine blitzing (hitting as many blots as possible) and priming (building a blockade) in backgammon?
Because you can make it hard for the opponent to get out of the home board.
What is the anchoring strategy in backgammon?
Setting up a safe point in the opponent’s home board that you can use for getting off the bar.
What is the back game strategy in backgammon?
Setting up multiple safe points in the opponent’s home board to make it harder for them to get their pieces there and giving you a place to enter if you get hit.