Backgammon – Three Main Strategies

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental plans employed. You need to be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious trouble seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your chances. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, because you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!