In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main game plans employed. You must be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
July 27th, 2026
Makenzie
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