Backgammon – Three General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 09/23/2025 01:25 pm by Madisyn
In exceptionally simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You must be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!