In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief tactics used. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious difficulty because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
September 16th, 2025
Lee
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