Backgammon – Three General Techniques

[ English ]

In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief techniques used. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble because they have two checkers 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 competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The better places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!

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