Backgammon – Three Main Plans

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In very general terms, there are 3 basic strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time calamity since they have 2 checkers 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 opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!