Backgammon – Three General Plans

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

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!