Backgammon – Three Main Schemes

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious calamity seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!