Backgammon Blockage

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 862

A fine line between defensive and aggressive strategy exists in the game of backgammon. Elements of both are necessary to achieve consistent success in the game but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. The following information will teach you about defensive strategy and how to avoid a backgammon blockage from occurring.

One of the most commonly used defensive strategies in backgammon is referred to as a priming strategy. This involves building anchors or clusters of checkers on strategic points. They can help you bring other outside checkers safely home by minimizing the risk of them being hit by your opponent's checkers. Anchors can also slow down your opponent, making it more difficult for him to move his checkers toward his home board or to bear off once he has reached his destination.

However, like anything, defensive strategy in backgammon should be played in moderation. Some players who put heavy emphasis on defense can unwittingly cause a backgammon blockage. This is when one area of the board is home to too many checkers. These can not only slow your opponent down but also make it difficult for you to move your own checkers to where they need to go. For this reason, it is worthwhile to limit your anchors to two or more checkers on a few strategic points. While a backgammon blockage will help you slow your opponent down, you shouldn't forget that it is crucial to get your checkers to your home board first if you want to win.

For information on how to build a successful defensive strategy without running the risk of falling victim to your own backgammon blockage, you should study as much as you can. Backgammon books, websites and word of mouth are all useful ways of perfecting strategy. The more strategically you think, the greater your chances become of beating your opponent.