Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques

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

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, because you do not have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!