[ English ]

In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 basic plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in serious calamity since they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!