In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
July 9th, 2023
Makenzie
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