Backgammon – Three Basic Plans

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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You need to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!