In extraordinarily general terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at least as thick as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most adequate tactic at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between 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 quickly as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your competitor is now in big-time difficulty since they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor spot is a position filled by at least two of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and either on abutting points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for a powerful backgame: besides, there is no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this right away, while your opponent is getting their pieces home, taking into account that you do not have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to attempt and get your opponent to get them in this situation!
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