In extraordinarily simple terms, there are three main strategies employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you can manage, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can assemble 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 involves locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your pieces.) It should be used when you are decidedly behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: besides, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opponent is shifting their pieces home, because you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
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