[ English ]

In exceptionally general terms, there are three basic plans used. You want to be agile enough to switch game plans quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty 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 more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this right away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!