Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic tactics used. You must be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic 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 game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point 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 challenger is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!