Backgammon – 3 Basic Plans

by Caden on September 16th, 2020

In very simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!

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