In exceptionally general terms, there are 3 general tactics used. You need to be agile enough to hop between strategies instantly as the course of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of assembling a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most suitable course of action at the start of the game. You can create the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your 2-point and then shuffle it into your home board as the match advances.

The Blitz

This involves closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. For example, if your opposer rolls an early 2 and shifts one piece from your 1-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your competitor is now in big-time dire straits considering that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This plan is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at least two of your checkers.) It must be employed when you are significantly behind as it greatly improves your opportunities. The best places for anchors are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there is no point having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then required to break apart this right away, while your competitor is getting their checkers home, seeing that you do not have any other spare checkers to shift! In this case, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it may be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this situation!