Backgammon Mid-Game Strategies

While openings lay the foundation for your game, it’s in the mid-game where the true art of backgammon reveals itself. This crucial phase, where positions become more complex and decisions more nuanced, often separates novice players from experts.

In this second article of our series, we will explore in depth:

  1. The four fundamental mid-game strategies
  2. Position evaluation and strategic decision-making
  3. The concept of timing and its central role in your choices
  4. Characteristic positions analyzed in detail
  5. The delicate art of strategic transitions

Understanding these concepts will not only make you stronger at backgammon but will also refine your strategic thinking in many areas.

Evaluating Mid-Game Positions

Before addressing specific strategies, it’s essential to know how to evaluate a position. In the mid-game, five main factors determine the strength of a position.

The Five Pillars of Positional Evaluation

Analysis of a mid-game position relies on five fundamental criteria, each of which must be evaluated precisely:

  1. Point Structure - The quality and position of your established points
  2. Race (Pip count) - The lead or lag in terms of distance to travel
  3. Flexibility - The ability to play a variety of rolls effectively
  4. Vulnerabilities - Exposure to potentially devastating opponent moves
  5. Timing - The balance between defensive position and checker progression

These criteria should never be considered in isolation. It’s their interaction that determines the overall quality of a position and, consequently, the optimal strategy to adopt.

How to Quantify These Criteria?

While modern programs use complex algorithms to evaluate positions, human experts have developed effective heuristics.

Criterion Positive Indicators Negative Indicators Relative Weight
Structure Consecutive points, 6-point prime, anchor in opponent’s zone Isolated points, “holes” in the structure 30-40%
Race 20+ pip lead, favorable distributions 20+ pip deficit, blocked checkers 15-25%
Flexibility Multiple options for various rolls Only one type of playable move 15-20%
Vulnerabilities Few exposed blots, accessible safety points Multiple blots, risk of direct hit 20-25%
Timing Balance between defense and progression Structure too rigid or too fluid 10-15%

This table gives only orders of magnitude. The relative importance of these criteria varies considerably depending on the specific context of the position.

The Four Fundamental Mid-Game Strategies

Backgammon offers four major strategic approaches for the mid-game, each adapted to different positional configurations.

1. The Running Game

The running game is the most intuitive strategy: the objective is simply to bring in and bear off your checkers faster than your opponent, without significant engagement.

When to adopt it?

  • You have a significant lead in pip count (20+ pips)
  • There is little or no contact
  • You have no checkers trapped in your opponent’s home board
  • Your opponent has not established a strong blockade

Key tactical elements:

  • Maximize the efficiency of your moves (use both dice effectively)
  • Avoid leaving blots unnecessarily
  • Focus on advancing your most distant checkers first
  • Consider the sequence of bearing off in the end game

Example position analysis:

Consider this position after the following moves: White rolls 6-4, plays 24/14, Black rolls 3-1, plays 8/5, 6/5.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
|                       | | X   X                 |
|                       | | X   X                 |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
| O                     | | O                     |
| O                     | | O   O   O             |
| O                  X  | | O   O   O   O   O   O |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

White has advanced a checker aggressively, while Black has established the crucial 5-point. White now has a small lead in the race and should consider a running strategy because:

  • The 5-point isn’t sufficient alone to trap White’s advanced checker
  • White doesn’t have checkers stuck deep in Black’s board
  • White’s structure allows for effective escape with most rolls

Optimal play: White should focus on safely bringing the back checkers forward while maintaining the racing advantage. Black would need to establish more blocking points to make the running game risky for White.

2. The Holding Game (Blocking Game)

The holding game strategy involves creating a strong blockade (prime) in your home board or outer board to impede your opponent’s progress while advancing your own checkers.

When to adopt it?

  • You have established several consecutive points (4+ points in sequence)
  • Your opponent has checkers trapped behind your blockade
  • Your racing position is reasonable (not more than 20 pips behind)
  • You have an anchor in your opponent’s board for safety

Key tactical elements:

  • Focus on creating and extending consecutive points (aiming for a 6-point prime)
  • Maintain an anchor in your opponent’s board as “insurance”
  • Carefully manage the timing of your structure
  • Look for opportunities to hit loose checkers behind your blockade

Example position analysis:

Consider this mid-game position where Black has established a strong blocking position:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
| X      X          X   | | X   X   X   X   X     |
| X      X              | | X   X   X   X         |
|        X              | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
| O                     | | O                     |
| O                     | | O   O                 |
| O                  X  | | O   O   O             |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

Black has established a 5-point prime (points 2-6) and has an anchor at the opponent’s 20-point. White has a checker trapped behind Black’s prime.

Strategic analysis:

  • Black’s position is ideal for a holding game: a strong prime, an anchor for safety, and an opponent’s checker trapped
  • Black should focus on maintaining this prime as long as possible
  • Black’s goal is to advance outside checkers safely while keeping White’s checker trapped
  • If White’s trapped checker escapes, Black should consider switching strategies

Key decision point: If Black rolls 6-4, should they break the prime to advance a back checker (20/14) or maintain the blockade by playing 13/7, 8/4?

The correct decision depends on timing assessment: if Black has sufficient timing to maintain the prime while advancing other checkers, preserving the prime is preferable. If timing is becoming an issue, starting to release the prime while White is still trapped can be the winning approach.

3. The Back Game

The back game is a defensive strategy where you deliberately hold multiple anchors (two or more points) in your opponent’s home board, hoping to hit a blot later and make a recovery.

When to adopt it?

  • You’re significantly behind in the race (30+ pips)
  • Your opponent has a strong home board
  • You have the opportunity to establish multiple anchors in your opponent’s home board
  • There are sufficient checkers to play an effective back game (6+ checkers on anchors)

Key tactical elements:

  • Establish and maintain at least two anchors, preferably on the 1, 2, and 3 points
  • Distribute your checkers efficiently on your anchors
  • Try to maintain a flexible position with your other checkers
  • Patiently wait for your opponent to leave blots, then hit aggressively

The back game is often misunderstood and misplayed. It’s a defensive, not offensive strategy, and should generally be adopted only when other strategies aren’t viable.

Example position analysis:

Consider this position where White is playing a back game:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
|                       | | X   X   X   X   X     |
|                       | | X   X   X             |
|                       | | X                     |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
| X                     | | O                     |
| X   X                 | | O   O   O             |
| X   X   X             | | O   O   O   O         |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

White has established anchors on the 1 and 2 points in Black’s home board. Black has a strong home board and a significant lead in the race.

Strategic analysis:

  • White is playing a classic back game with two strong anchors
  • White’s goal is to maintain these anchors until Black is forced to leave blots
  • White needs to distribute checkers optimally between the two anchors (generally 4-5 checkers on each)
  • White must be patient - premature attempts to escape can lead to disaster

Key tactical opportunity: If Black rolls poorly and leaves a blot, White must hit it and try to contain the hit checker behind a newly formed blockade. This creates a “double-shot” opportunity - if Black fails to enter from the bar, White may gain the advantage.

Common mistake to avoid: Holding too many anchors (3+) or keeping too many checkers on anchors, which makes it difficult to build a strong home board after hitting a blot.

4. The Blitz

The blitz is an aggressive strategy aimed at trapping your opponent’s checkers by repeatedly hitting blots and building a strong home board to contain them.

When to adopt it?

  • Your opponent has vulnerable checkers (multiple blots or isolated checkers)
  • You have a strong home board or can build one quickly
  • You have sufficient builders in your outer board
  • You’re not significantly behind in the race

Key tactical elements:

  • Hit opponent’s blots aggressively
  • Focus on building a strong home board (especially the 5, 4, and bar points)
  • Take calculated risks to maintain attacking pressure
  • Be prepared to transition to another strategy if the blitz fails

Example position analysis:

Consider this position after White rolls 3-1 and needs to decide whether to start a blitz:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
| X         X           | | X   X   X   X   X   X |
|                       | | X   X   X   X   X     |
|                       | | X                     |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
| O                     | | O                     |
| O                     | | O   O   O             |
| O     O               | | O   O   O   O         |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

White has a strong home board (points 1-5), and Black has a vulnerable blot at the 11-point.

Strategic analysis:

  • White can hit the blot by playing 8/5*/4
  • This initiates a blitz, aiming to contain Black’s checker on the bar or in White’s home board
  • White’s strong home board makes this a favorable blitz opportunity
  • The risk is minimal since White has a secure position

Key decision point: If the blitz is successful and Black has a checker on the bar or trapped, White should continue the aggressive approach, looking for more hits. If Black escapes, White should re-evaluate and potentially transition to a holding game or running game.

The Crucial Concept of Timing

Timing is perhaps the most subtle yet decisive element in backgammon. It refers to the balance between position strength and the ability to maintain that position while making progress.

What is Good and Bad Timing?

Good timing means having the right balance between:

  • A strong blocking structure
  • The ability to play rolls efficiently without weakening your position
  • The capacity to maintain pressure on your opponent

Bad timing occurs when:

  • Your position becomes so inflexible that you’re forced to make weakening moves
  • You must break your blocking structure prematurely
  • You run out of “safe” moves and must create vulnerabilities

Measuring and Managing Timing

Timing can be evaluated through several indicators:

  1. Spare Checkers - Having spare checkers (not committed to your prime or other key structures) provides flexibility
  2. Distribution - Having checkers well-distributed gives more options for various rolls
  3. Safety Valves - Identifying “safe” moves that don’t weaken your position for difficult rolls
  4. Sequence Planning - Planning several moves ahead to prevent timing problems

Advanced players often make moves that appear suboptimal in isolation but preserve timing for future rolls. This forward-thinking approach is a hallmark of expert play.

Example of timing management:

Consider this position where Black faces a timing decision:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
| X   X   X   X   X   X | |               X       |
| X   X   X   X   X     | |               X       |
| X                     | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                    X  | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |               O       |
|                       | |               O       |
| O   O   O   O   O   O | |               O   O   |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

Black has a perfect 6-point prime but has checkers far back. White has two checkers trapped behind Black’s prime.

Black rolls 6-3 and has two main options:

  1. Play 24/18, 24/21 - advancing back checkers
  2. Play 13/7, 13/10 - maintaining the prime but not advancing back checkers

Timing analysis:

  • If Black has spare checkers on the 13-point, maintaining the prime (option 2) is likely correct
  • If Black has only the minimum checkers needed for the prime, advancing back checkers (option 1) may be necessary to prevent being forced to break the prime later
  • The decision depends on whether Black has sufficient timing to trap White’s checkers while bringing all back checkers around

This is a classic timing decision: maintaining maximum pressure now versus positioning for long-term success.

Strategic Transitions

Perhaps the most challenging aspect of backgammon is knowing when and how to transition between strategies as the position evolves.

Key Transition Moments

  1. From Holding Game to Running Game:

    • When your opponent’s trapped checkers escape
    • When you’ve gained a significant racing advantage
    • When maintaining your blocking structure becomes problematic

  2. From Running Game to Holding Game:

    • When you hit an opponent’s blot in a favorable position
    • When you establish multiple consecutive points naturally
    • When your racing advantage diminishes

  3. From Back Game to Counterattack:

    • After successfully hitting an opponent’s blot
    • When you can establish a blocking position of your own
    • When your opponent makes positional errors that create opportunities

  4. From Blitz to Plan B:

    • When your initial attacks fail to contain the opponent
    • When your home board structure deteriorates
    • When the risk/reward ratio of continuing the blitz becomes unfavorable

The Art of Smooth Transitions

Successful transitions require:

  1. Constant Re-evaluation - Continuously assess whether your current strategy is still optimal
  2. Positional Flexibility - Maintain positions that allow for strategic pivots
  3. Recognition of Key Moments - Identify the critical points where a transition offers maximum advantage
  4. Psychological Adaptability - Be willing to abandon a failing strategy, even after investing in it

Example of strategic transition:

Consider this position where White needs to decide whether to transition from a holding game to a running game:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
| X   X   X   X   X     | | X   X   X   X         |
| X   X   X             | | X   X                 |
| X                     | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
| O                     | | O                     |
| O                  O  | | O                     |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

White had been playing a holding game with a 5-point prime, but Black’s last checker has escaped the prime.

Strategic decision point:

  • Continue the holding game by maintaining the prime?
  • Transition to a running game by focusing on advancement and bearing off?

The correct decision depends on several factors:

  1. The pip count difference between the players
  2. The security of White’s checkers outside the home board
  3. Black’s home board strength
  4. The specific roll White has to play

If White has a small racing lead or equality, transitioning to a running game is likely correct. If Black has a significant lead, maintaining pressure through the holding game structure might still be preferable.

Advanced Techniques and Special Situations

Beyond the four fundamental strategies, several specialized techniques can be crucially important in the mid-game.

The Golden Point Rule

One of the most valuable heuristics in backgammon is: “When in doubt, make a point - preferably in your opponent’s board.”

This guideline is especially valuable when you’re uncertain about the optimal strategy. Creating points:

  • Increases your position’s flexibility
  • Reduces vulnerability
  • Preserves options for multiple strategies
  • Creates anchor safety

The Diversification Principle

When playing against a stronger home board, distribute your checkers to maximize your entry chances if hit. This might mean deliberately avoiding putting two checkers on the same outer board point.

The 20-Pip Rule

As a general guideline, when you’re behind in the race by more than 20 pips, pure racing is usually not viable. When behind by 40+ pips, you almost always need to adopt a back game or secure multiple strong anchors.

The Split vs. Slot Dilemma

In mid-game positions where both splitting (creating diversification) and slotting (attempting to make a point) are options:

  • Slot when you have adequate coverage (other checkers that can cover the slotted checker)
  • Split when your position needs more flexibility
  • Slot when the point you’re targeting is highly strategic
  • Split when your opponent’s hitting chances are high

Example of split vs. slot decision:

With this position, if White rolls 5-2, there’s a classic split vs. slot dilemma:

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
-------------------------------------------------
|12  11  10  9   8   7  | | 6   5   4   3   2   1 |
| X   X      X   X      | | X   X   X   X   X     |
| X   X      X          | | X   X   X             |
|        X              | | X                     |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
 -------------------------------------------------
|                       | |                       |
|                       | |                       |
|                       | | O                     |
| O                     | | O   O                 |
| O   O              O  | | O   O   O             |
|^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^  | | ^   ^   ^   ^   ^   ^ |
|13  14  15  16  17  18 | | 19  20  21  22  23  24|
 -------------------------------------------------

White can:

  1. Slot the 3-point by playing 5/3 (creating a builder for the valuable 3-point)
  2. Split by playing 24/19 (improving position flexibility)

The correct decision depends on:

  • Whether White can afford to be hit (how strong is Black’s home board?)
  • Whether making the 3-point significantly improves White’s position
  • The overall race situation
  • Whether White has other builders that could make the 3-point later

This exemplifies the nuanced decision-making required in mid-game positions.

Cube Decisions in the Mid-Game

The doubling cube adds another dimension to mid-game strategy. Knowing when to double and when to take are skills as important as checker play itself.

When to Double

Generally, consider doubling when:

  1. You have a clear advantage in at least two of the five evaluation criteria
  2. Your position has flexibility (you can withstand some unfortunate rolls)
  3. Things are more likely to get better than worse for you
  4. Your advantage is sufficient but not overwhelming (usually 60-70% winning chances)

When to Take a Double

Consider taking a double when:

  1. You have at least 25% winning chances
  2. Your position has comeback potential
  3. The match score makes taking correct
  4. You have a specific plan that could turn the game around

Remember that cube decisions are heavily influenced by match score and context. A decision that’s correct in a money game might be incorrect in a match to 7 when leading 5-2.

Conclusion: The Integrated Approach

The mid-game in backgammon represents the phase where true mastery is revealed. Beyond memorizing openings or understanding basic principles, it requires:

  • Accurate position evaluation
  • Recognition of the optimal strategy
  • Proper timing management
  • Sophisticated understanding of when to transition between strategies
  • Integration of cube strategy with checker play

The beauty of backgammon’s mid-game lies in its balanced complexity - positions are rich enough to reward deep analysis but constrained enough to be comprehensible by the human mind.

In our final article in this series, we’ll explore the endgame and race positions, where mathematical precision often becomes the deciding factor.

What mid-game positions do you find most challenging? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and we might analyze them in our next article!