In astonishingly simple terms, there are 3 main tactics used. You must be agile enough to hop between techniques almost instantly as the action of the match unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of assembling a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as deep as you are able to achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s checkers that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable strategy at the start of the match. You can create the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This is composed of locking your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your competitor on the bar. i.e., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your 1-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious difficulty due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have closed half your inner board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have two or more pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point occupied by at least two of your pieces.) It must be played when you are extremely behind as it greatly improves your circumstances. The strongest locations for anchor spots are near your competitor’s lower points and also on adjacent points or with one point in between. Timing is critical for an effectual backgame: after all, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is getting their pieces home, seeing that you don’t have other extra pieces to shift! In this case, it’s better to have pieces on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it can be a good idea to attempt and get your challenger to get them in this case!