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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 chief strategies employed. You need to be able to switch strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable strategy at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game advances.

The Blitz

This consists of closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time trouble taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be played when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your competitor to hit them in this case!

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