In very simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques employed. You want to be able to hop between strategies quickly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you are able to achieve, to lock in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable tactic at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opponent rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 eight/three. Your opposer is then in serious difficulty since they have 2 pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more pieces in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as this strategy much improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on abutting points or with a single point separating them. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this right away, while your challenger is shifting their pieces home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this case, it is more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your opposer provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a great idea to attempt and get your competitor to hit them in this case!