Some people believe backgammon is a game of pure luck — that rolling the right dice at the right time is all it takes to win. While a fortunate roll can sometimes rescue you from a bad position, it would be a mistake to ignore the importance of strategy.
Backgammon is a game of decision-making under uncertainty. You don’t control the dice, but you do control how you respond to them. The goal of strategy is simple: make the best possible decision in every situation, given the information you have.
How to win at backgammon has been debated for centuries and explored in dozens of books. While there is no single formula for guaranteed success, Backgammon Rules explores the key principles that consistently lead to better results.
Backgammon opening moves
Just like chess, backgammon has well-known opening moves depending on your first roll. These moves are considered statistically optimal and give you the best long-term chances.
- 3–1: Make your 5-point (home board)
- 4–2: Make your 4-point (home board)
- 5–3: Make your 3-point (home board)
- 6–1: Make the 7-point (outer board)
These opening plays are widely accepted as the best starting choices.
Of course, backgammon is dynamic — after the first roll, positions evolve quickly. What matters most is learning why these moves are strong, not just memorizing them.
How to Win at Backgammon: Core Strategy Principles
Opening theory is only the tip of the iceberg. To build a solid backgammon strategy, you must understand a few fundamental concepts.
The Race
At its core, backgammon is a race: the first player to bear off all checkers wins.
Knowing who is ahead in the race at any given moment is crucial. The standard unit of measurement is the pip count — the total number of points your checkers must travel to bear off.
- If you are behind in the race, you often need to stay flexible, keep contact, and look for opportunities to hit an opponent’s blot.
- If you are ahead, your priority is safety: avoid leaving blots and simplify the position.
Learning to estimate pip counts during a game gives you a massive strategic edge.
Assessing the Risk of Being Hit
Even careful players must sometimes leave blots. Strategy is not about avoiding risk entirely — it’s about managing probability.
With two dice, there are 36 possible rolls. Understanding how many combinations can hit a blot helps you make smarter decisions.
For example:
- A blot 6 pips away can be hit by 17 combinations
- A blot 3 pips away can be hit by 14 combinations
Each non-double counts as two combinations, and each double counts as one.
A simple rule to remember:
👉 The closer your checker is to safety, the less likely it is to be hit.
Probability awareness separates strong players from casual ones.
Strategy Comes From Practice
Understanding strategy intellectually is important — but strategy is learned through repetition.
Playing real games helps you:
- Recognize common positions
- Apply opening theory naturally
- Develop a feel for risk vs. safety
- Improve cube decisions over time
Free online play is one of the best ways to practice without pressure:
- Backgammon Cash is ideal for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users who want smooth free games against real players.
- Nextgammon offers deeper analysis and competitive play for players ready to challenge themselves.
Keep Learning
Backgammon strategy continues to evolve, especially with the rise of strong analysis engines and modern online platforms.
Explore our strategy articles to deepen your understanding, refine your decisions, and gradually become a stronger, more consistent player.
Mastery comes from clarity, discipline, and experience.
May the dice be with you 🎲
