In exceptionally simple terms, there are 3 basic tactics used. You need to be agile enough to switch strategies quickly as the course of the game unfolds.
The Blockade
This consists of building a 6-deep wall of checkers, or at least as thick as you are able to manage, to lock in the opponent’s pieces that are located on your 1-point. This is judged to be the most acceptable course of action at the begining of the match. You can create the wall anywhere between your 11-point and your 2-point and then move it into your home board as the match continues.
The Blitz
This is composed of closing your home board as fast as as you can while keeping your opponent on the bar. For example, if your opposer tosses an early 2 and moves one piece from your 1-point to your three-point and you then roll a five-five, you are able to play 6/1 6/1 eight/three 8/3. Your competitor is then in serious difficulty considering that they have two pieces on the bar and you have closed half your inside board!
The Backgame
This tactic is where you have two or more pieces in your opponent’s inner board. (An anchor spot is a position occupied by at a minimum 2 of your checkers.) It should be employed when you are decidedly behind as this plan greatly improves your chances. The strongest locations for anchors are close to your opponent’s lower points and either on adjoining points or with one point in between. Timing is essential for an effective backgame: at the end of the day, there is no reason having two nice anchors and a solid wall in your own home board if you are then forced to break down this straight away, while your competitor is shifting their checkers home, because you don’t have any other additional checkers to move! In this case, it’s better to have checkers on the bar so that you are able to preserve your position up until your opponent provides you a chance to hit, so it will be a wonderful idea to attempt and get your challenger to hit them in this situation!
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