Backgammon Strategy

Almost every game you’ll ever play involves some type of strategy. Even games involving dice – which many consider to be left solely to luck – involve preplanned tactics. A good strategy easily separates the winners from the losers. And with backgammon, the need for a tactical approach is taken to a whole new level.

The object of backgammon is to move your pieces into your home board and then be the first to bear them off to win. To do this effectively, many strategies have been developed over the years, all of which touch on the game’s basics while elaborating on a few of the finer points in order to close out opponents. Since backgammon is essentially a race, the easiest-to-understand strategies work the best, solely because they’re instantly adaptable during the course of the game.

Getting your pieces (men) home is considered offense, while trapping your opponent’s back-men so they cannot easily escape is considered the defensive approach. When selecting and implementing your strategy, you should choose based on your particular game style. Or better yet, adapt a bit of each, for example, trapping your opponent with a bit of defense before exploding on offense. Adaptability; quick, on-your-feet thinking rules the day.

Although a planned approach is the way to go, you don’t want any recycled, regurgitated tactics. Your opponent is probably aware. Instead, you need to learn the intangibles in order to build your own game-plan. First, we’ll touch on the overall balance needed. In this context, the balance has to do with your pieces. You want them evenly spread across the board, with no more than three at any single point. Too many pieces takes away your flexibility and forces your hand, causing you to make mistakes. A well-spread board provides many more options.

You should also avoid being susceptible to being hit by your opponent pieces. There is a time and a place to leave your pieces exposed (leaving a blot) on the board. For example, if your opponent is trapped in or only has the six point, exposing yourself doesn’t matter much. But if he has a closed board, you’re in danger if you’re exposed.

Attack early and take the four, five and seven points. This not only blocks your opponent in, but it also allows you to bring some pieces home. A good strategy not only increases your options, but also decreases your opponent’s.

As mentioned before, it’s all about the adaptability of your game. Using a few key points, you can develop a winning strategy as you gain more experience. And the best part: It will be your strategy, undecipherable by opponents and always changing like the wind. This makes for an extremely dangerous backgammon player.