Backgammon – Three Main Plans
Monday, 3. November 2025
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic tactics used. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada