[ English ]

In very simple terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in serious calamity due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as this action much improves your chances. The better locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break apart this right away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!