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Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to block in the competitor’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 assemble the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits because they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!

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