Backgammon – 3 General Strategies

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effective 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 opposer is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!