Introduction to Backgame

After a couple of slightly lighter off-topic game reviews it is time to get back to real online backgammon business. In this article we introduce you a typical backgammon situation called backgame and look at the basic strategies both for the leading and the trailing player.

What is a backgame?

I am sure you have heared the word backgame, but how you define backgame? To put it simply, you’ve got a backgame going when both following criteria are met:

• you have two or more anchors on the opponent’s home board
• the opponent has several points made in front of the anchors, usually a four or five-prime

Normally your opponent has also managed to escape his rear checkers and is well ahead in the pip-count. Note also that the nature of the backgame is such that only one of the players can be playing a backgame at a time. As opposed to holding games where both players are playing a holding game, backgame is more clear-cut situation but one that requires more strategical understanding from the player playing the backgame.

The picture below is an illustration of a typical backgame.

Basic strategies

So, looking at backgame features it is fairly simple to derive how the two sides should play. Assuming that White is the trailing player and Black is the leading one:

White

• tries to hit Black’s checker and
• tries to contain it, i.e. make sure it won’t be soon running back to Black’s home board

Black

• tries to avoid leaving a shot when bringing his men to safety

Both players should try to keep as many checkers in play as possible. For White this is important so that he can build his home board and not having to break the anchors too early. For Black on the other hand it is important so he wouldn’t have to break his prime and offer an easier escape for White’s checkers, or worse, likely to leave a shot. A solid prime is essential against an opponent with a good backgame

To be continued

Keeping checkers in play is called timing. We are going to look at timing in backgame in more detail later, but if you are unfamiliar with the concept of timing in Backgammon, have a look at our Priming games article where timing is explained. The Backgame advance strategy article will also dive into doubling strategies and see what Snowie has to say about various anchor positions in a backgame situation. But let this simple and brief introduction about backgame sink in for now and you can later continue with Advanced backgame strategies.