Backgammon Cheats

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!