Backgammon – 3 General Plans

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general tactics used. You must be able to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!