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Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three chief strategies employed. You must be able to hop between techniques quickly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious calamity because they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are extremely behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, because you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!