Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental tactics employed. You need to be able to switch strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!