Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In very general terms, there are 3 general plans used. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!