In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 general tactics employed. You want to be agile enough to hop between tactics instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most acceptable tactic at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere within your eleven-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This involves locking your home board as quickly as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time calamity taking into account that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have 2 or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least two of your pieces.) It must be used when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchor spots are towards your competitor’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with a single point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other additional pieces to shift! In this case, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up till your opposer provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be an excellent idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this case!
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