Backgammon – 3 Main Schemes

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!