Backgammon – Three General Techniques

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!