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Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are 3 basic strategies used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 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 six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty because they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your chances. The better locations for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!