Backgammon – 3 General Strategies

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic plans used. You need to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!