Backgammon – Three Basic Techniques

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In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans used. You must be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your opposer to hit them in this case!