Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques

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In very general terms, there are three main plans used. You must be able to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this situation!