[ English ]

In very simple terms, there are 3 main plans used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might manage, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer 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 roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!