Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You must be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!