[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 chief tactics used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, because you don’t have other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!