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Bowl Streaker!

In exceptionally simple terms, there are three basic strategies used. You need to be able to hop between strategies almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time difficulty because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!