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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very simple terms, there are 3 main strategies used. You must be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This is comprised of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is now in big-time difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It would be employed when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position up till your competitor provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!