Backgammon – Three Main Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 09/17/2025 03:25 am by Zaire
In very simple terms, there are 3 fundamental game plans employed. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to block in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger 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 roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!