Backgammon – Three Main Strategies

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general strategies used. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!