Backgammon – 3 General Techniques

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In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 main game plans used. You want to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!