Backgammon – Three Main Techniques

Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time calamity since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!