Backgammon Blocking - How to Block Your Opponent
In this section you'll learn about the backgammon blocking strategy, and how to implement it during the game.
Backgammon is not just about racing your opponent, and competing on who brings his checkers to the homeboard the fastest. This is mainly because of the backgammon blocking method, wherein the player prevents his opponent from advancing his checkers, because he has occupied many point and has blocked the board.
Backgammon blocking should be thought of from the first backgammon moves, so you can plan how to place checkers in as many rows as possible. Creating the block should be made moderately and in increments, and sometimes a player should move one of his checkers to an open point so that later he will be able to close this point and expand his block.
Backgammon Blocking Implementation
A Blocking Prime
Your backgammon opponent is prevented from entering a point if it is occupied by two or more of your checkers. If there are several points like this, one after another, it makes it very difficult for your opponent to continue in the game and advance his position. This way you are using backgammon blocking not only to finish your opponent off but to score more points. It is possible to advance your chances of winning a gammon or a backgammon with this technique.
A prime Block is when consecutive rows are occupied by two or more checkers and prevent the opponent from continuing to advance their checkers. A broken prime is where there is a gap between the rows of checkers. Backgammon blocking has a close link to making the priming game, even though you should not confuse the two strategies. A prime is a type of backgammon blocking technique, but there are other ways you can block your opponent.
Blocking Anchors
Another backgammon blocking strategy you can use is to make a backgammon anchor to block your opponent, because your opponent will have to stay in his position and not be able to make open points. The anchor can be made at the start of the game or as the game develops, what matters is that it creates a working block that will hold off your rival.
While maintaining a backgammon block, A player advances while his opponent is stuck, and eventually the player will be able to start bearing off his checkers. Because of the advantage the blocking gives you, when making a block it is possible to reach gammons or backgammons victories in the game. If you succeed to put a backgammon block consider doubling the stakes so you can make more points for the game you almost surely will win.
How to Block Your Opponent
To succeed in blocking, you should follow these rules:
- Try and make consecutive rows. This will create the blocked previously discussed.
- Place rows in the middle of the board. Primes in the home board, for example, are not helpful because they cannot block the opponent.
- Do not advance one checkers at a time but move them together. Even if they are not yet blocks they can form them in the future.
- Blocks sometimes become relevant after hitting your opponent, especially if the block is in the home board and it prevents the opponent from entering the board.
Backgammon Blocking your opponent is one of the basic techniques and it needs practice. Try some Rounds of Online Backgammon and focus on blocking your opponent as practice.
Felicity Stone - Technical Writer
