In exceptionally simple terms, there are three fundamental techniques used. You want to be able to switch game plans almost instantly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This involves creating a 6-thick wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you can achieve, to barricade in the competitor’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most suitable course of action at the begining of the game. You can build the wall anywhere between your eleven-point and your two-point and then move it into your home board as the match advances.
The Blitz
This is comprised of closing your home board as quick as as you can while keeping your opposer on the bar. e.g., if your competitor tosses an early 2 and moves one checker from your one-point to your 3-point and you then toss a five-five, you will be able to play 6/1 six/one 8/3 8/3. Your opponent is then in serious calamity taking into account that they have 2 checkers on the bar and you have locked half your home board!
The Backgame
This strategy is where you have 2 or more anchors in your competitor’s inner board. (An anchor is a position filled by at a minimum 2 of your pieces.) It should be employed when you are extremely behind as this strategy greatly improves your chances. The strongest areas for anchor spots are towards your opponent’s smaller points and either on adjoining points or with one point separating them. Timing is crucial for a competent backgame: after all, there’s no point having two nice anchor spots and a complete wall in your own inner board if you are then forced to break apart this straight away, while your opposer is moving their checkers home, taking into account that you don’t have other spare pieces to shift! In this situation, it’s more tolerable to have checkers on the bar so that you might preserve your position up until your opponent provides you an opportunity to hit, so it may be an excellent idea to attempt and get your opposer to hit them in this case!
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