Switchback

A switchback is a situation in which a ladder moves back two rows and changes direction. The attacker is still in control after the switchback. Although it is not always ladder escape, it often can be and is usually a strong play.

The situation prior two a switchback looks like this (assume the piece on D3 is in some way connected to the top):

Red makes a switchback as follows:

Now the ladder continues back to the left:

Note here how red was able to connect back to the D3 piece. This is not always possible, but even if it isn't the switchback can be used to create a long line connected to the edge and four rows back from it, a distinct advantage.