Backgammon Tricks

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic strategies employed. You must be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious trouble since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!