Backgammon Information

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In very general terms, there are three fundamental strategies employed. You need to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious dire straits considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!