Backgammon – Three General Schemes

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans used. You need to be able to switch tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to 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 start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious trouble because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!