Your first move - part 1

You’re comfortable with all the opening moves, right? What about the opening replies? Here’s a great example of needing to adapt your first move in response to your opponent’s play.

With an opening 64 some of the more - ahem - ‘traditional’ players will opt for 24/14 or 24/18 13/8 rather than 8/2 6/2. It doesn’t really matter (the differences are all tiny, although match score considerations can make one move better than another).

But for an opening reply of 64, when your opponent has made their 2 point, it’s a blunder to do anything other than copy them. You must move 8/2 6/2 here. White has made a gammonish move and is looking to blitz, so splitting your back checkers plays into their hand. Instead make your own 2 point and wait to see how the game develops.