Backgammon Strategy Backgammon Strategy for Dummies

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In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You must be able to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in the opponent's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time difficulty because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor's inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent's smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!