In astonishingly simple terms, there are three basic tactics employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques quickly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves building a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the game. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as fast as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is now in serious dire straits because 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 inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at a minimum two of your checkers.) It should be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, because you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opposer gives you a chance to hit, so it will be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this case!
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