Backgammon – 3 General Techniques

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In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You want to be able to switch strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!