| Backgammon - how to play difficult numbers?
Backgammon rules, playing tips, techniques, strategies... advice!Now we will study some number combinations which are a little more difficult to play. Why they are "difficult numbers"? Because they don't have a standard move, and you have more than one "right" choice, or you have to think more to make a right move. On the below you will see 2 boards, on the first board you will play "4+1" and your rival "5+1", on the second board you and your rival will play the same number "6+2". You have played an aggressive "4+1"; one checker from "row12" to "row16" and one checker from "row19" to "row20". You have made a preparation to form blocks on "row20" and/or on "row18". Start to pray for a "double1" for the next hand!
Your rival was more conservative, played one checker from "row24" to "row23", a clever move to increase his chance of hitting your blots if you can't cover them at next hand, and he moved one checker from "row13" to "row8". Now for this hand people will tell that it is more safe to play one checker from "row1" to "row2" instead of "row 19 > 20" which is correct, but without adrenalin.
Up to your decision! Your "6+2" play is aggressive, one checker from "row12" to "row20", your rival played a calculated "6+2" for your blot on "row20" and preparing his soldiers for possible blocks on "row7+5+4+... "
If you roll one more "6+2" (which is always possible), you will hit the checker on "row18" and cover your block on "row20". Also a "double1" and a "double3" will come like a good medicine.
People play "6" like your rival but for "2", moving a checker from "row8" to "row6" is nonsense for me, you will always need checkers in "row8" for blocks. So bring one from "row13" to "row11".
Now suppose that your rival have rolled a "6+4" (this tip is applicable to "6+2 and 6+3" also) and have decided to run from "row24" to "row15" which is normal. Your target is to hit this checker and send it to its initial place: "row24". And suppose that you have rolled a "6+3", how you will play? From "row1" to "row10"? Wrong! You must move one checker to "row7" and one checker to "row4" from "row1", why? Because your aim is to disturb your rival! Now his/her attention will be divided between protecting the blot and protecting the home area!
As I always say, avoid standard moves, follow and read the game well and make the most suitable decisions. As a good player you must have a strategy at the beginning of the game, relative to your opponent's skills, but you must also be creative and revise your strategy continuously as the game changes. Attack or defense, or vice versa..
The numbers like "2+1"; "3+2"; "5+2" may be used for preparations, bring your checkers from "row12" to "row14+15+16+17" for potential blocks. For example, I don't like to play a "3+2" as one checker goes to "row17" from "row12", instead I like to bring one checker from "row12" to "row14", and one, again, from "row12" to "row15", this increase your future opportunities (and risks!). Backgammon - Wait or escape?
Backgammon rules, playing tips, techniques, strategies... advice!Count how many checkers you have on the outer board and check the distance of each one to your home area, then compare with your rival's checkers, and decide! Remember even huge differences are not very important against a lucky rival, 2-3 doubles will easily fill the gap.
There is a formula to
calculate your and your opponent's situation but I personally believe that this will only make you busy and won't help much against a lucky rival.
Let's study an
example on the board, it's your turn and you have to play "double5": What are you waiting, run away! Take your 2 checkers from "row3" and go to "row13", it's your lucky day! Let's see another
position on the board to play a "double5": In this position it's obvious that if you try to escape your 2 checkers from "row7", you will need few more doubles to form a balance in the game. Instead, you must wait for a blot, and in the meantime pray for the absence of doubles in your rival's side. While you wait, try to restore your home area's weak checkers and close open gates.
In the next page (Backgammon Part4) we will study how to bring checkers into home board and a few techniques to force your rival to be gammoned (loosing two games or two points).
| |
