Backgammon – 3 General Plans

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general plans used. You must be able to switch tactics instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity because 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 higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!