Backgammon – Three General Strategies

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You want to be able to switch strategies almost instantly 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 can manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!