Guard Your Back Row in Checkers: The Bridge
A man that reaches your back row becomes a king, so the men you keep at home are your defence. You can't keep all four there for the whole game. This lesson shows which two to keep, and why.
Step 1 of 4
The bridge
To crown, a white man has to stop on your second row first: on b2, d2, f2 or h2. With your men on c1 and g1, a man on b2 or d2 is jumped by c1, and a man on f2 is jumped by g1, as the dashed arrows show. A man on h2 can only go on to g1, which is filled. These two men are called the bridge, and a lone enemy man can't get through it. Their jumps land on a3 and e3, so keep those squares clear. Two attackers can break it, so keep it as long as the game allows.
Which two to keep
Say you can keep only two of your four back men. Which pair covers every way a lone white man could get in?
Hold the bridge
White's last man is on e3, two steps from crowning. Next it has to step to d2 or f2, and your bridge is waiting for it. All you have to do is leave the bridge alone.
Your move
Make a move that keeps the bridge, then jump the white man.
Which man moves?
Midway through a game, your four back men are still at home. Your men on a3 and h4 can't move, and a5 can only step to b6, where the man on c7 jumps it. So one of your back men has to move.
Your move
Move a back man and keep the bridge.
What you learned
- To crown, a man must stop on your second row first: b2, d2, f2 or h2.
- Men on c1 and g1, the bridge, jump a man on b2, d2 or f2, and h2 leads nowhere.
- Keep a3 and e3 clear for the bridge's jumps.
- When a back man has to move, moving a1 or e1 keeps the bridge.
In this course
Unit 1The rules
Unit 2Tactics
- The Two-for-One Shot in Checkers
- Forced Captures in Checkers: Use Them as a Weapon
- Guard Your Back Row in Checkers: The Bridge
- How to Get a King in Checkers: Break Through
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