Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies

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In very simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!