Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In very general terms, there are 3 fundamental plans used. You must be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious trouble taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent's smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don't have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it's more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!