Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 main plans used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the opponent's checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent's inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchor spots are near your opponent's lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don't have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!