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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 main techniques used. You must be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might manage, to barricade in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as it much improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to get them in this case!