In very simple terms, there are three fundamental game plans employed. You need to be able to switch game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The best places for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!
0 Responses
Stay in touch with the conversation, subscribe to the RSS feed for comments on this post.
You must be logged in to post a comment.