In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 chief tactics employed. You need to be agile enough to switch techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you can achieve, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable strategy at the start of the match. You can assemble the wall anywhere inbetween your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the game advances.
The Blitz
This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then roll a 5-5, you can play six/one six/one eight/three eight/three. Your challenger is then in big-time dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your home board!
The Backgame
This plan is where you have 2 or higher checkers in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a point consisting of at a minimum two of your pieces.) It needs to be used when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The strongest places for anchors are towards your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break up this straight away, while your opposer is shifting their checkers home, seeing that you don’t have any other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent gives you a chance to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opposer to get them in this situation!
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