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Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are three general techniques used. You need to be able to hop between tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at least 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The better areas for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!