In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three basic techniques used. You want to be able to hop between tactics quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you can achieve, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your competitor rolls an early two and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious trouble because they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you might preserve your position up till your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
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