In very simple terms, there are three basic techniques employed. You need to be agile enough to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the match unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of creating a 6-deep wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to block in your competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is deemed to be the most adequate procedure at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one eight/three 8/3. Your opponent is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more checkers in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point consisting of at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are decidedly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The better places for anchors are near your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for a powerful backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your opponent is moving their pieces home, considering that you don’t have other extra checkers to move! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have pieces on the bar so that you can preserve your position until your challenger gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this case!
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