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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very simple terms, there are 3 fundamental tactics employed. You must be agile enough to switch game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your challenger is getting their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this case!