Backgammon – 3 Main Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 09/30/2026 07:25 pm by Jillian
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You must be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses 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 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!