Backgammon Information

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic plans employed. You must be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious calamity since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!