Building Bockades in Backgammon

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Building blockades in backgammon is a one of the basic strategies to prevent an opponent from being the first one to bring all their checkers into the inner area of the backgammon board; from here they can begin to bear off all their checkers and hence win the game.

The backgammon rules allow players to hit an opponent's single checker, but once two or more checkers are placed on a point they are protected from being hit, and they form a block that holds up the movement of the opposing checkers. Building blockades in backgammon is at its most effective when the blocks can be put together so that they occupy six consecutive points, and this is known as a prime. Where building blockades in backgammon is the focus of the game, it is known logically enough as a "Blocking Game."

Building blockades in backgammon is recommended by some experts as a good approach to take at the very start of the game. The most favored targets are the two checkers that the opposing player has positioned in your home area. By placing blocks on the second and third points it is possible to blockade these two checkers. Once these two enemy checkers are blocked in, they can only escape with a double-six dice throw.

Failing this, the opponent may be forced to remove a single checker and this leave the remaining checker an easy target for a hit. While concentrating on building blocks and primes, a player needs to remain alert to avoid leaving any of their own blots exposed and thus liable to be hit.