Backgammon – 3 General Strategies

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In very simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!