Backgammon – Three General Plans

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!