The 5 most frequently used Backgammon strategies are:

• The Running Game
• The Holding Game
• The Priming Game
• The Blitz
• The Backgame.

The Running Game

The running game is the most direct and usually considered the best strategy – simply avoid being hit, getting trapped, or ending up in mutually blocked stand-offs. The running game is most wanted when you are ahead in the game.

The Holding Game

In the holding game strategy you keep a point, high in you opponent's board or on your opponent's bar point, while he builds his board. You might win by hitting your opponent's blot from the held point, or by rolling large doubles that will allow you to break the point and take the lead.

The Priming Game

This strategy involves building a 6-long wall of checkers, or at least as long as you can manage, in order to lock in your opponent's checkers that are behind your ‘line of defense’. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then drive it into your home board as the game evolves.

The Blitz

This strategy involves building a 6-long wall of checkers, or at least as long as you can manage, in order to lock in your opponent's checkers that are behind your ‘line of defense’. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then drive it into your home board as the game evolves. 

The blitz involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 3-1 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 4-point and another checker from your 1-point to your 2-point. You then roll a 4-4, so you can play 6/2, 6/2 and 8/4 8/4. Your opponent now has a serious problem because he has 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board (6-point, 4-point and 2-point).

The Backgame

The backgame is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent's home board (an anchor is a point occupied by 2 or more of your checkers). It should be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchors are toward your opponent's lower point and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is vital for an effective backgame. There's no point in having 2 fine anchors and a solid wall in your home board if you are then forced to break this straight away, while your opponent is getting his checkers to his home board because you don't have any other checkers to move. In this case it's better to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position and slow down your progress until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it might be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case.

Some players go for a backgame from the outset, but this is a mistake. The backgame is a losing strategy! Having said that, it’s a strategy makes you less likely to lose if you are already losing.