In exceptionally simple terms, there are three main techniques employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can build the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opponent rolls an early 2 and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you will be able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opposer is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!
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