[ English ]

In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!