In very general terms, there are three general tactics used. You want to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opposer is then in big-time trouble since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It needs to be employed when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your circumstances. The best locations for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: besides, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you do not have any other additional checkers to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!
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