In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental strategies used. You need to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opposer rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be used when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective 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 forced to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
March 20th, 2022
Lee
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