Backgammon – 3 Basic Strategies
Posted in Backgammon on 08/07/2025 05:25 am by Madisyn
In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main strategies used. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The better locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!