Backgammon My Backgammon Blog

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three main plans used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your competitor's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-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 now in big-time calamity seeing that 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 2 or more checkers in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your competitor's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you don't have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it's better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!