In astonishingly general terms, there are three general tactics used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s checkers that are located on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most acceptable procedure at the begining of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace within your eleven-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as quick as possible while keeping your challenger on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early two and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a 5-5, you are able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time trouble considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This strategy is where you have 2 or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It would be played when you are significantly behind as it much improves your opportunities. The best places for anchor spots are close to your competitor’s smaller points and also on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: at the end of the day, there’s no point 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 challenger is shifting their pieces home, considering that you do not have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you might maintain your position up until your challenger gives you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to try and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!