Backgammon – 3 General Schemes

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In very general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween 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 fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble since they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!