In extraordinarily general terms, there are three chief tactics employed. You need to be able to hop between techniques instantly as the course of the game unfolds.

The Blockade

This is composed of building a 6-thick wall of pieces, or at a minimum as deep as you can manage, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are on your 1-point. This is considered to be the most adequate tactic at the begining of the match. You can build the wall anywhere inbetween your eleven-point and your 2-point and then shift it into your home board as the game progresses.

The Blitz

This consists of locking your home board as quickly as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor rolls an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you can play six/one 6/1 8/3 8/3. Your challenger is then in big-time difficulty due to the fact that they have two checkers on the bar and you have locked half your inside board!

The Backgame

This course of action is where you have 2 or more anchors in your opponent’s home board. (An anchor is a position consisting of at least 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this action greatly improves your chances. The better areas for anchors are towards your opponent’s lower points and either on abutting points or with a single point in between. Timing is integral for an effectual backgame: besides, there’s no point having 2 nice anchor spots and a solid wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break up this right away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, owing to the fact that you don’t have other extra checkers to shift! In this situation, it is better to have pieces on the bar so that you are able to maintain your position up until your opponent gives you an opportunity to hit, so it can be a good idea to try and get your opponent to hit them in this case!