Backgammon – Three Main Schemes
Tuesday, 29. July 2025
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main tactics used. You want to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious trouble because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada