Backgammon – Three Main Techniques

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In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three main strategies used. You must be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opposer is now in serious dire straits due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, because you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!