Backgammon Information

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity since 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 more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!