Backgammon – Three General Plans

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general plans used. You must be agile enough to switch game plans quickly 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 manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!