Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 03/19/2026 03:25 am by Jillian
In extraordinarily simple terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time trouble taking into account that 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 higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might 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 situation!