Backgammon Information

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In exceptionally general terms, there are three general strategies used. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!