In very simple terms, there are three main techniques employed. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you do not have other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
