Backgammon – 3 Basic Schemes

[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main techniques used. You need to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this situation!

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.