Backgammon – Three Main Plans
Posted in Backgammon on 06/07/2026 07:25 pm by Lillie
In very general terms, there are three general tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!