In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics used. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-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 trouble due to the fact that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!
May 30th, 2024
Makenzie
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