Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies

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In very general terms, there are 3 general strategies employed. You must be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest 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 competent backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve 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 situation!