In exceptionally simple terms, there are three general techniques employed. You need to be able to switch techniques quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It needs to be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your challenger provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
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