Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief game plans used. You need to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in big-time calamity considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also 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 reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!