Backgammon – Three General Strategies

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In very general terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!