In extraordinarily general terms, there are three general game plans employed. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your challenger rolls an early two 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 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in serious difficulty seeing that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your chances. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, because you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this situation!
You must be logged in to post a comment.
