In very general terms, there are three general techniques used. You need to be agile enough to hop between game plans instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This comprises of creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at a minimum as deep as you might achieve, to barricade in the opponent’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable procedure at the start of the game. You can build the wall anyplace within your 11-point and your two-point and then shift it into your home board as the game continues.

The Blitz

This is composed of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your challenger tosses an early 2 and shifts one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then toss a 5-5, you will be able to play six/one six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opposer is now in big-time dire straits seeing that they have two pieces on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This tactic is where you have two or higher pieces in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a point filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It would be employed when you are decidedly behind as it much improves your circumstances. The better areas for anchor spots are near your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: at the end of the day, there is no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own home board if you are then required to break up this right away, while your opponent is shifting their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have any other spare checkers to move! In this situation, it is better to have checkers on the bar so that you can maintain your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!