Read more about the
Las Vegas 2024 Super
Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three main tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is comprised of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as fast as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your competitor tosses an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time trouble considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked 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 point consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to dismantle this right away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!