Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief strategies used. You want to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!