Backgammon – 3 Main Plans

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!