Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!