Backgammon – Three Main Schemes

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You must be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!