In exceptionally general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You must be able to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
December 7th, 2024
Lee
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