Backgammon – Three Basic Techniques

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In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental strategies employed. You want to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!