Backgammon – Three Main Plans

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You must be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious 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 checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!