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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In astonishingly general terms, there are three basic game plans used. You need to be able to hop between game plans instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to block in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your opposer is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!