Backgammon – Three Basic Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 04/26/2026 03:25 pm by Jillian
In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You must be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!