Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main plans used. You must be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are near your competitor's lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors 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 pieces home, because you don't have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!