Backgammon – 3 General Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 10/31/2025 03:25 am by Madisyn
In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls 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 eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!