Backgammon My Backgammon Blog

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent's smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there's no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this case!