[ English ]

In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 general techniques employed. You must be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!