Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques

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

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!