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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques employed. You want to be able to switch strategies instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle 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 opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time difficulty considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest places for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is moving their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!