Backgammon Strategy – Blocking

Creating a blockade has been the key to victory in a number of circumstances. The French fleet blocking off British ships during the American Revolutionary war is probably one of the main reasons we are a nation of coffee drinkers instead of a bunch of colonies who sip tea while daintily chewing on crumpets. During the Civil war, it was a blockade that kept supplies from the Confederate troops, and an army of gray coats out of Washington. It is true that backgammon is not nearly as important as these previously mentioned events. The winner of the game does not get to decide who runs the country, but a blockade is just as effective in backgammon as it is in military conflicts.

When you are attempting to create a block in backgammon, try to build points without gaps between them. This will form a blockade directly in front of your enemy’s checkers in your home board. This is done to prevent their escape. Six points in a row is called a prime. A prime makes it impossible for your opponent to escape for as long as you can maintain that structure. Six points in a row in the player’s home board is called a "closed board". It is named as such because any opposing checkers on the bar cannot legally re-enter and are closed (or shut out) of the game until the controlling player uncovers on the six points. Consider shifting points (giving up one point in order to make an adjacent point) if it helps to create a blockade.

This is a great strategy to tie up your opponents checkers. Give it a try and annoy your enemy with futility as they attempt to break your block.