In extraordinarily general terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You want to be able to hop between game plans quickly as the action of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your one-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in serious difficulty because they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your circumstances. The best places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with a single point separating them. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opponent is moving their checkers home, considering that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable 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 can be a great idea to try and get your competitor to get them in this case!
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