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Bowl Streaker!

In very general terms, there are three main game plans used. You must be able to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to manage, to block in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.

The Blitz

This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have 2 or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your chances. The best places for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and also on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!