Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general tactics employed. You need to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-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 quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls 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 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!