Backgammon Strategy: 8 Tips That Help Beginners Win More

Updated: 10 November 2026

Backgammon involves luck – but in the long run the better planner wins. With these eight basic principles you will play noticeably more confidently after just a few games.

1. Make points, especially in your home board

A point with two of your checkers is safe and blocked for your opponent. Your 5-point is especially valuable – often called the “golden point” – followed by the 4-point and the 7-point (the “bar point”). Several blocked points in a row make it hard for your opponent to free their back checkers.

2. Only leave single checkers for a good reason

A single checker (blot) can be hit and must then start again. Leave blots mainly where your opponent can hardly hit them – far from their checkers – or where being hit costs you little.

3. Count pips: who is ahead?

Count how many points all your checkers still need to travel (the “pip count”). At the start it is 167 for each player. Whoever has fewer is ahead in the race. This number helps you decide whether to attack or run.

4–6. Three game plans you should know

• Running game: Ahead in the race? Bring your checkers home with as little contact as possible.
• Holding game: Behind? Keep an anchor (two checkers) in your opponent’s home board – ideally on their 4- or 5-point – and wait for a shot.
• Priming game: Six blocked points in a row cannot be jumped. Even four or five in a row are very strong.

7. Know the hitting odds

How likely is a single checker to be hit? It depends on the distance (with nothing in between):

Rule of thumb: distances up to 6 are dangerous, from 7 on it gets much safer.

8. Stay safe while bearing off

If your opponent still has checkers in your home board, bear off carefully: it is better to take off one checker less than to leave a blot. Evenly spread checkers are better than tall stacks.

Next, have a look at the best opening moves and the most important backgammon terms.