In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 fundamental techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans almost instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of building a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you might achieve, to block in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable course of action at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits taking into account that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a point filled by at least 2 of your pieces.) It would be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjacent points or with one point separating them. Timing is essential for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other extra pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to get them in this case!
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