Backgammon – Three General Schemes

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!