Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very simple terms, there are 3 general game plans used. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might manage, to barricade in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits seeing that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!