Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques

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In astonishingly general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!