Backgammon – Three General Schemes

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!