[ English ]

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

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!