Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 chief plans employed. You need to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to lock in your opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious trouble since they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor's home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchors are close to your opponent's lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there's no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, because you don't have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!