Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
Thursday, 23. April 2026
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You must be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to get them in this situation!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada