Backgammon – Three Basic Plans

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You must be able to switch strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time difficulty since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!