Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent's checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent's lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!