In extraordinarily general terms, there are three general techniques used. You must be agile enough to switch strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is now in serious dire straits because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
August 9th, 2024
Lee
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