Backgammon All About Backgammon

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three general strategies used. You need to be agile enough to switch game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to block in your competitor's pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent's home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest areas 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: at the end of the day, there's no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!