Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general tactics used. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!