In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general techniques used. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of creating a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can manage, to lock in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween 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 opposer tosses an early two and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity due to the fact that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or higher anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best locations for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is important for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have other extra pieces to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up till your opposer gives you an opportunity to hit, so it will be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
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