Keep your back row as long as you can
The pieces on your back row are the ones that stop your opponent from getting a king. As long as they stay, your opponent cannot crown easily. Beginners often move these pieces out early because they are the only ones that look free to move. Try to develop your other pieces first, and keep two or three back-row pieces at home until the middle of the game.
Fight for the centre
Pieces in the centre of the board can move in more directions and can support each other. Pieces along the edge have fewer options and are easier to trap. Try to place your pieces on the central squares, and avoid pushing a lone piece down the side of the board, where it can get stuck.
Move in pairs and keep your pieces connected
A piece with a friend behind it is hard to capture, because a jump needs an empty square to land on. If two of your pieces stand diagonally behind each other, an opponent cannot jump the front one. Make this a habit: before you move a piece forward, check that it will be supported.
Count before you trade
When captures are forced, a trade is not a choice, but you can often choose which trade. The rule of thumb: when you are ahead in pieces, trade, because each trade makes your lead bigger as a share of what is left. When you are behind, avoid trades and look for a trick.
- Before every move, ask what your opponent's best reply is, and what you must do after it.
- Look for moves that force your opponent to make a capture that opens a double jump for you.
Look for multiple jumps
The fastest way to win material is a double or triple jump. They happen when your opponent has pieces with empty squares behind them in a zigzag. A common trick is a sacrifice: you give up one piece, your opponent must capture, and the capture leaves a chain of pieces open to a multiple jump. Always check your opponent's formation for gaps like that.
Use kings carefully
A king moves and captures in both directions, so it is worth far more than a normal piece. But a king that wanders alone can be trapped against the edge. Keep your kings near your own pieces and use them to attack stragglers. In the end game, two kings can often trap a single king in the corner, so do not rush to trade your last kings.
