In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might manage, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This involves closing your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more checkers in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It would be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to get them in this situation!
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