Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental plans employed. You need to be able to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious difficulty considering 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 anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!