Backgammon – Three Main Strategies

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In very simple terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You must be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!