Backgammon – Three Main Techniques

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 chief techniques employed. You must be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The better places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!