In very simple terms, there are 3 general tactics employed. You must be able to switch tactics almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to lock in your opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the match progresses.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your opponent tosses an early two and moves one piece from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is now in serious calamity considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!
The Backgame
This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as this strategy much improves your circumstances. The better places for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you do not have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your competitor gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!
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