In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief techniques employed. You must be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play 6/1 six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your competitor is now in serious trouble because they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your checkers.) It must be played when you are decidedly behind as this plan much improves your circumstances. The strongest areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: after all, there’s no reason having two nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any 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 competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it can be a wonderful idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!
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