Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly general terms, there are three general techniques used. You want to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable 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 try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!