Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action 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 continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent's smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there's no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don't have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it's more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!