[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general plans employed. You must be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious calamity since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!