Backgammon – Three General Plans

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

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, because you do not have other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!