Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 11/03/2025 10:25 am by JillianIn extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls 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 six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time calamity since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual 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 forced to dismantle this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
