Archive for August, 2026

Backgammon – Three Main Schemes

In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You must be able to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, because you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!

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