In astonishingly simple terms, there are three chief techniques used. You want to be able to hop between strategies instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in your opponent’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate strategy at the start of the game. You can assemble the wall anyplace between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.

The Blitz

This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as possible while keeping your opposer on the bar. i.e., if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 six/one eight/three eight/three. Your opponent is then in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or higher anchors in your competitor’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least two of your pieces.) It needs to be played when you are decidedly behind as this action much improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for an effective backgame: after all, there’s no point having 2 nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break down this straight away, while your challenger is shifting their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have any other additional pieces to move! In this situation, it’s more favorable to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your competitor provides you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a great idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!