In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general strategies used. You must be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious trouble because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It would be used when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your chances. The better places for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!
January 23rd, 2022
Makenzie
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