Backgammon – 3 Basic Techniques
Posted in Backgammon on 12/18/2025 10:25 pm by Zaire
In astonishingly simple terms, there are three main plans employed. You need to be able to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious difficulty taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!