Backgammon – Three Basic Schemes
Posted in Backgammon on 06/28/2026 05:25 pm by Lillie
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three general strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!