Content

• Part 2 of 3: Tactics and strategy of the game
• Part 3 of 3: Preparing for the Tournament
• Tips
• Warnings

1 Try to get more checkers into the king than your opponent. In checkers, the one who has the most kings has the advantage. Therefore, set a goal for yourself to get as many kings as possible - this will increase your chances of winning.

• To put this advice into practice, move your checkers to the area of ​​the board where your opponent has fewer checkers or his checkers are more scattered and vulnerable. If possible, insure the advanced checker with neighboring checkers, even at the cost of their sacrifice, in order to increase the chances of passing the king.
• In the second part of the article, we will tell you how to "redirect" the opponent's checkers and get into the kings.

2 Do not move the last row of checkers for as long as possible. The opponent will not be able to carry the king if the last cells are occupied by your checkers, so this strategy will prevent him from gaining an advantage in the early stages of the game. And when you finally start walking with the last row of checkers, you will have more options for moves.

• You will not be able to hold the last row all the time. When you have few checkers left or there is an opportunity for a profitable exchange of checkers, do not be afraid to move the checkers of the last row.

3 Move checkers in compact groups and pairs. Two checkers "in tandem" stand next to each other diagonally. Keep the checkers close enough to each other that you can make a tandem in one move, making it difficult for your opponent to capture your checkers.

• "Follow" the previously advanced checker before moving it further, covering it. The safety net of the pushed forward checker with two checkers is even more reliable, since you can protect it from impact from both sides.
• In the second part, we will show you how to set up paired traps.

4 Exchange checkers when it is beneficial to you. Obviously, it is beneficial for you to exchange one of your checkers for two of your opponent's checkers, but even exchanging one checker for one is beneficial if you have more checkers on the board than your opponent.

• For example, if you have 5 checkers, and your opponent has 4, the forces on the board are practically equal. But when you exchange three more checkers equally, you have a double advantage over your opponent (2 to 1)!

5 Control the center of the board. Keep a few checkers closer to the center, and you will have the opportunity at any time to quickly transfer forces to one of the flanks on which you should focus. Similarly, try not to let the opponent's checkers occupy the center of the field in order to deprive him of the advantage.

• You will need some experience in order to calculate how many checkers you need to collect in the center of the board in a particular game. As a general rule, you should strengthen your position so that the opponent could not calmly transfer forces from the center to the right or left corner of the field. After achieving this goal, you should not further pile up the checkers in the center, otherwise you will simply force the board, limiting the mobility of your own checkers.

Part 2 of 3: Tactics and strategy of the game

1. 1 Donate checkers for an advantage. According to the rule of "obligatory hit", the opponent must take your checker if he has such an opportunity. Calculate the consequences of your moves by imagining what position will be created on the board after capturing your checker, and thereby determining whether to put it in jeopardy.
   • If you are trying to drive a checker into the kings, and the enemy is hindering you, you can sacrifice a less important checker by removing the opponent's checker that is hindering you from the path.
   • If your checkers are located diagonally, moving one of them forward will force your opponent to beat it, as a result of which his checker will be hit. But at the same time, make sure that the enemy cannot beat several of your checkers in one move!
2. 2 Use pair traps. For this type of trap, the checkers on the board must be positioned in a certain way. The first checker (1) occupies the rightmost or leftmost square on the diagonal, and your second checker (2) becomes directly in front of it on the same diagonal. Further along this diagonal is an empty cell, followed by an opponent's checker (denote it by A), followed by another of his checkers B.
   • Move checker 2 towards the opponent's checkers, substituting it under the blow of checker A.
   • According to the rule of compulsory blow, the opponent must beat your checker with checker A, but he cannot then beat your checker 1, since it is at the edge of the board.
   • After the enemy takes your checker 2, you can beat his checker A with your checker 1.
   • According to this standard scenario, there is a not very interesting exchange of one checker for another. However, you can set such a trap by "waiting" for a double strike opportunity.
3. 3 "Redirect" the opponent's checkers. To do this, from the very beginning of the game, decide that six of your checkers on one side of the board will be group A, and six on the other - group B. This will be useful for you in order to determine which checkers should be played at one stage or another of the game.
   • At the beginning of the game, try to move exclusively with the checkers of group A, moving the checkers of group B only if there are no good moves for the checkers of group A.
   • Entering with an opponent in exchange, try to exchange checkers of group A, leaving group B untouched.
   • After a few exchanges, your opponent's checkers are likely to be concentrated in the half of the board where the Group A checkers were. Now start pushing the Group B checkers forward: this way you can take good positions to break into the kings through the weakened defense on this part of the board.

Part 3 of 3: Preparing for the Tournament

1. 1 Determine the rules for the tournament. Some tournaments have standard checkers rules, which boil down to a free move or free style. Others are subject to the rule 3 moves, according to which the players must limit themselves to a certain sequence of 3 moves at the start of the game. The 3-move rule reduces the likelihood of a tie between two experienced players.
2. 2 Study the checkers strategy guide that suits your level of training and the rules for the tournament. The most recent strategy tips are provided in recently published books, but this is not so important if you are a beginner. Look through the shelf of checkers literature in a library or bookstore, and you will surely find a book that will be useful and interesting for you to read.
3. 3 Practice by memorizing certain sequences of moves at the beginning of the game (openings). To play with the rule of the first 3 moves, find an encyclopedia on checkers, which will describe the options for this opening. For rules with a free move, accordingly, choose the opening that you like best, and work out all possible counter moves of your opponent in this opening.
   • It can also be helpful to memorize the typical mid and late game checkers on the board, but in competition you are more likely to encounter a standard opening than any typical mid-game set-up.
4. 4 Play with the best opponents you can find. Playing against strong opponents will allow you to learn a lot from them and improve your skills. Participate in competitions or find a strong player willing to play with you; the stronger your opponent is, the more you will learn.

Tips

• Study your opponent. A "mistake" made by an experienced player is most likely a trap. Think twice before taking the opportunity.

Warnings

• Do not leave your front checkers uncovered if you have something to cover them with. At the beginning of the game, when you still have enough checkers, you should always defend them.
• Play thoughtfully and slowly. Do not rush, even if you see an opportunity to beat the opponent's checker. A beginner in such a situation seeks to move forward and take advantage of the advantage given to him. However, he often falls for the trick of a more experienced player.
• Don't play too defensively. The Mandatory Hit Rule will force you to end up breaking your defensive position. It is more effective to try to hold the king yourself than to prevent your opponent from doing this, and even playing at the same time to your detriment.