In extraordinarily general terms, there are three fundamental tactics used. You want to be able to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to lock in your opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the match. You can create the wall anyplace inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your challenger on the bar. i.e., if your opponent tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in serious trouble due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have two or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are significantly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to dismantle this straight away, while your competitor is moving their checkers home, considering that you don’t have other extra checkers to shift! In this case, it is more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this situation!
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