Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies

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In very general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious trouble taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!