[ English ]

In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 basic techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!