Backgammon – 3 Main Techniques

by Karla on June 19th, 2021

[ English ]

In extraordinarily general terms, there are three main plans employed. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be used when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!

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