In astonishingly general terms, there are 3 main tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to switch tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate strategy at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. e.g., if your challenger rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious trouble due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least 2 of your checkers.) It should be played when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is integral for an effective backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this straight away, while your opponent is getting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be a good idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!
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