Backgammon – Three Main Strategies

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three chief game plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! 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 can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!