Escape Routes for our Backgammon Checkers

Right after board setup we should consider how to build our positions on the points and also figure out safe escape routes for our back checker pieces. We should always remember that it is a race of who moves and bears off backgammon checker pieces first.

Escape routes are ways on how we can best move our last checker pieces to the home board. Initially our checker pieces should serve defense and offense purposes on the board. This is by means of being a part of a build up—like a prime or anchor. At first we establish builders—paired pieces on a point. Then, we make successive points like this to build major prime or anchors.

But we should dismantle them soon and bring pieces on them back in the race. As we move them to our home board there will be pieces left behind on the enemy board. We should plan safe escape routes for them because they will be likely targets for hits by the opponent. These pieces left behind are called back checkers.

When we have a back checker on 24-point and the dice roll says 6-4, we may put the back checker on the 14-point. Another good option is to move our checker on the 24-point to the 18-point and our 13-point on the 9-point. If want to make points, we may consider moving our pieces on the 8-point and 6-point both to the 2-point.

To make points in the game, we should have at least borne off several pieces before the opponent has finished bearing off all enemy backgammon checker pieces. That's equivalent to a gammon each. When we have several pieces still on the bar and the opponent has finished bearing off all pieces that's equivalent to a backgammon.

When we still have a checker on the 24-point and the dice roll comes with a 6-5 we should take this opportunity to bring the piece to the 13-point. We may also opt to move our back checkers by creating small builders and send them home through these.

Planning on escape routes should be considered right during the first few moves after the board setup. It should constitute our first strategies on the board. In other words our first moves should consider how we'd end the game. It is useless to plan escape routes when we've discovered we've been trapped.

Backgammon checker pieces left behind, or back checkers, should be provided escape routes. This is a major part of winning.