In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 main tactics used. You must be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is now in big-time trouble seeing that they have 2 pieces 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 spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this strategy greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are near your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with one point separating them. Timing is important for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, because you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up till your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!
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