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Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three general techniques employed. You must be able to switch strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This consists of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can build the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are significantly behind as this plan much improves your opportunities. The better locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, because you do not have any other additional pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!

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