Backgammon – Three Basic Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 07/21/2026 03:25 pm by Jillian
In very general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!