Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 basic strategies employed. You must be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral 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 apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!