What is Blocking Backgammon?

The backgammon board for blocking backgammon is the same as in traditional backgammon, as is the number of pieces each player has, except that in blocking backgammon you start with all of the pieces off of the board. You must start by entering all of your pieces onto the backgammon board into your opponents ‘home’. Once they are all there, you can then move them around the board to your own ‘home’ before taking them off, as in the traditional backgammon game.

The means by which you get your pieces onto the board is the same as how you get a ‘taken’ piece re-entered into the game in traditional backgammon – by rolling the dice and placing the piece on the appropriate finger.

There is no ‘taking’ in blocking backgammon. If you have one piece on a finger this means that you own it and your opponent cannot land on it. If however you have more than one piece on a finger, your opponent is free to stop on it, and if he has only one piece on it, he now owns it. By owning a finger, you essentially trap any pieces underneath yours from moving. So, if your opponent has two pieces on a finger and you put one on top, he cannot move his pieces until you move yours.

These are the only differences in Blocking Backgammon. You are now ready to start mastering a new backgammon game – enjoy!