[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic game plans employed. You must be able to switch techniques instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!