Backgammon – Three General Techniques
Tuesday, 7. July 2026
In very general terms, there are 3 general game plans employed. You need to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you can preserve your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this case!
Posted in Backgammon by Jada