Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main game plans used. You must be able to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!