In exceptionally general terms, there are three main techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between tactics quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious calamity considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your competitor is moving their pieces home, seeing that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this situation!
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