Backgammon – Three Main Plans

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In very simple terms, there are 3 chief game plans used. You need to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!