Backgammon – Three Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 04/30/2026 03:25 pm by Jillian
In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans used. You must be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity since they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!