In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief strategies used. You want to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be used when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your challenger provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
June 17th, 2026
Makenzie
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