What is a Priming Game?

One of the strategies you will see that will be played a lot during a backgammon match will be what is called a priming game. We'll take a look at what a priming game is and how to take advantage of this particular strategy if our rolls fit the bill.

A priming game resembles a holding game in a certain way. Like the holding game, you control certain points on the backgammon board and take advantage of your position. The difference between these two backgammon strategies is that in a priming game, you will be controlling a row of points to hedge up your opponent's movement.

This row of points that you control on the backgammon board is called a prime. It pretty much looks like a wall on the backgammon board. The function of your prime is to block your opponent's checkers and keep them stuck while letting you move your checkers freely.

Ideally, you should build a prime that is six points long, the longer your prime the more effective it will be in a game of backgammon. If a backgammon player is able to set up a prime that is six points long, that player becomes the favorite to win a particular backgammon game.

A six-point prime becomes a death sentence to your opponent's checkers as long as they remain trapped behind that wall of backgammon checkers. This is so since your opponent can't make checkers jump beyond six points long in a single dice roll.

Another piece of strategy you can add to the priming game is to hit your opponent's blots when they turn up. This would be a great move since you add more of your opponent's backgammon checkers behind your prime.

The crucial part of playing the priming game is maintaining your prime during a game of backgammon. It isn't going to be worth it if you can set up a prime that is six points long and then break it up later on before achieving your goal.

To maintain your prime, remember to keep a flexible position especially if you already have your prime set up. Make sure you move checkers that are lagging behind first before moving any of your backgammon checkers that are behind your prime.

Move spare backgammon checkers if you can when you make a bad roll. If you simply have no other choice, see if you can move your checkers at the end of the prime first, or if you have spare backgammon checkers on the prime, move those first.

The priming game is a strategy you will see a lot during matches. Take note of the things we mentioned here to help you set up a great priming game.

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